Gallup cop accused of excessive force resigns from GPD

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Patrolman Jonathan Bobo submitted a letter of resignation to Gallup Police Department officials on Tuesday afternoon and ended the nearly six-week long internal affairs investigation into claims he used excessive force while on duty.

The police department, the complainant in the matter, accused Bobo of using excessive force while on patrol on Dec. 31, 2005. The incident sparked an internal affairs investigation, which was conducted by the complainant, to determine the validity of the allegation.

Bobo was subsequently placed on paid administrative leave pending the inquiry's outcome. In a phone interview last month, Bobo denied the claim and said whatever force was used was necessary. He has declined the most recent request for comment.

City Manager Eric Honeyfield said Bobo submitted the letter of resignation to Chief Sylvester Stanley and Deputy Chief Don Raley at about 10 a.m. on Tuesday during a private hearing at the police department.

"It was his choice," Honeyfield said. "We sincerely regret the departure of Mr. Bobo or of anyone who has his kind of roots in Gallup."

Honeyfield said he's disappointed to see Bobo leave the department.

"Officers are quite the commodity and hard to attract to Gallup," he said. " ... but this is the best for all who are concerned."

Bobo's resignation marked the end of the internal affairs investigation.

"This (Bobo's resignation) is the culmination of all that," Honeyfield said. "We don't need to pursue it any further."

Honeyfield refused to disclose details about the incident that sparked the investigation to the public by stating he "didn't want to drag anyone's name through the mud."