Malden Police Chief Officially Retires After 32-year Career

MALDEN, MA — Chief Glenn Cronin marked his final day with the police department on Tuesday, retiring after a 32-year career that concluded with a surprise celebration at City Hall attended by family, friends, colleagues, and city officials.
Cronin spent part of his last day in office attending meetings at Malden City Hall before being surprised by those gathered to recognize his decades of service to the city. Mayor Gary Christenson, Police Commissioner Barbara Murphy, Captain Paul Hopkins and incoming Police Chief Marc Gatcomb were among those in attendance.

The department said Cronin served the community with professionalism, integrity and compassion throughout his career, leading the agency since 2022 following the retirement of longtime Chief Kevin Molis.
Among Cronin's accomplishments as chief, the department credited him with leading the Malden Police Department through the process of earning state accreditation for the first time in its history. Officials said the designation reflects the department's commitment to professionalism, accountability and policing standards.
Cronin joined the Malden Police Department in 1994 as a patrol officer and rose through the ranks over nearly three decades, earning promotions to sergeant, lieutenant and captain before being appointed chief in 2022. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice from Western New England University and is a graduate of Session 227 of the FBI National Academy, one of law enforcement's premier leadership programs.
Gatcomb will officially take over as Malden's next police chief following Cronin's retirement. A nearly 40-year veteran of the department, Gatcomb joined the Malden Police Department as a cadet in 1987 and currently serves as commander of the Criminal Investigations Division. During his career, he has overseen major investigations, served on an FBI task force focused on human trafficking, and acted as the department's Public Information Officer for the past 15 years.

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"On behalf of the entire Malden Police Department, we extend our deepest gratitude to Chief Cronin for his leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to our department and the community we proudly serve," the department said in a statement. "Congratulations on an incredible career, Chief Cronin. We wish you nothing but happiness, good health, and many wonderful memories as you enjoy this well-earned retirement with your family and loved ones. Thank you for 32 years of dedicated service to the City of Malden."

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