Chief Gaston

A naheim Police Capt. John Flanagan recalls that when Randall Gaston joined the Police Department in 1965, Gaston was a 'quintessential cleancut all-American boy" with a baby face and wide-eyed look. "It was obvious to everyone," said Flanagan, who had been on the force for 18 months when Gaston joined, "that Gaston was intelligent, articulate and was going to do well. "You get a feel for people who are going to advance. (Gaston) gave off the right signals." Gaston has indeed advanced. The 49-year-old captain of the special operations division was confirmed as the city's new police chief at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Gaston now will be responsible for a department of 522 employees, 352 sworn officers and an annual budget of $50.8 million. He also inherits a department whose officers have been working without a contract since 1991 and who have picketed City Hall twice to urge the City Council to approve a pay raise and hire more officers.