Officially, Scott Cronk retires as Emporia’s police chief on New Year’s Day.
Unofficially, his last day in the office is this upcoming Friday — and Cronk joined KVOE’s Morning Show on Wednesday for an informal exit interview.
Cronk joined Emporia Police as a reserve officer in 1981 and became a full-time commissioned officer two years later. He says he was interested in police work from a young age.
Cronk worked up the ranks, becoming interim chief in 2012 after the resignation of Gary Smith and was named the permanent chief in 2013. He has been a proponent of community policing, saying it is important for officers to serve the community and be active in it. He credited the relationships Emporia Police has with Emporia Fire, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and local media, and he says several highlights stand out during his career.
Cronk also says the current work to renovate the city-county emergency communication system is vital for officers, deputies, fire and rescue and dispatchers alike as they serve the city of Emporia and Lyon County.
Cronk also voiced his wholehearted support for Deputy Chief Ed Owens to succeed him. Owens will serve as interim chief until a permanent successor is named, and he is not commenting now on whether he would like to be Emporia’s next police chief. The city says it plans to lay out the search criteria early next year.
