City appoints Capt. Ron Wenger as police chief

Capt. Ron Wenger was appointed Monday as the city’s new police chief, succeeding Kris Alexander, who is retiring after a 30-year career in public service.

Wenger took his oath in a short ceremony at the Fallon City Hall.

Robert “Bob” Erickson, chief of staff for the city, said he’s known Alexander for many years, first as a city councilman.

“I’m sad to lose him,” Erickson said. “He’s a really good man, a good friend.”

Likewise, Erickson said he’s known Wenger for many years, and he knows the new chief will do a good job for the city.

The 61-year-old Wenger has been serving as a captain. Wenger first came to Fallon as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard. He was assigned to the Loran Station located at the end of Soda Lake Road. He was a reserve officer, and after leaving the Coast Guard, in 1985 Wenger joined the force as a full-time patrol officer until 1989 when he resigned to move home to take care of his terminally ill father.

While away from Fallon, Wenger remained in the law enforcement field as a deputy with the Mariposa County (California) Sheriff’s Office for five years. Wenger returned to Fallon in 1995 after his father died and rejoined the FPD. One year later, Wenger received a promotion to corporal and was transferred to the detective division. From 2001 to 2013, Wenger was a patrol sergeant, and in 2013, the city promoted him to captain. During this time, Wenger attended the FBI National Academy.

The council approved an annual salary of $127,488.

Wenger and his wife Katrina have been married 31 years, and they have three adult children who grew up in Fallon: Rachelle, Colton and Justina.

Alexander, 47, was appointed as the city’s police chief in November 2021 after Kevin Gehman retired. Before he became a police officer, Alexander served as a firefighter with the Federal Fire Department at Naval Air Station Fallon. While there, Alexander also served as a reserve police officer until there was a full-time opening with the city in 1998. He attended the police academy before he began his career on patrol.

Before he was selected as one of the city’s two captains, Alexander had been a school resource officer, co-adviser of the department’s Explorer Scout program and an investigator with the North Central Narcotic Task Force.

As a captain, his last position before his promotion to chief, Alexander was in charge of the investigation division, communications and records, animal control, community service, school resource officers, the narcotics investigator and Volunteers in Police Service Programs.

Alexander is married to Jerilyn, and they have four children.