Gregory sworn in as new Provo police chief

Former Delaware lawman and senatorial staffer Rick Gregory officially began his new job as Provo's police chief Tuesday morning after a swearing-in ceremony.

City Recorder Janene Weiss presided over Gregory's recitation of the oath of office at Provo City Hall.

Gregory, who most recently served as state director for Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., comes to Provo with three decades of public safety experience. He has previously served as lieutenant colonel with the Florida Highway Patrol; and as police chief, acting public safety director and chief administrative officer for New Castle County, Del.

Gregory, whose family has Utah roots, replaces Dave Bolda, who had been serving as interim chief after Chief Craig Geslison retired in January. Geslison announced his departure just as an external investigation into his troubled department began.

Geslison's retirement came on the heels of ex-officer Jeffery Westerman's guilty plea to attempted forcible sexual abuse and obstructing justice for groping a woman during a traffic incident last year, and Officer Mark Petersen's "no contest" plea to charges of disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice for allegedly threatening his girlfriend with a handgun.

remims@sltrib.com