Robert Gurule
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Robert Joe Gurule is the sherriff of Conejos County, Colorado and former Police Chief of Antonito, Colorado.
Gurule was born Jose Antonio Gurule on November 30, 1953 near Antonito, Colorado. He graduated from Antonito High School in 1973. His first aspiration was to pursue a career in art, as a teacher as well as artisan. He worked as a silversmith and jewelry maker in Antonito from May 1973 until November 1976. To better support his family, Robert went to work for the Sheriff's Department. He entered law enforcement in 1976, with the Conejos County Sheriff's Department under Sheriff Candy Gomez. In 1979 Gurule was hired by Antonito Police Dept.
[edit] Academy
In 1981 Gurule attended the Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy (CLETA) in Golden, graduating among the top of his class. In 1984 Gurule was appointed Antonito P.D.'s Police Chief, and remained so until 2005 when the town disbanded their police department for fiscal reasons. Going full circle in his 30 years of full-time local law enforcement experience, Gurule again works at the Conejos County Sheriff's Department. Gurule has maintained his art as a hobby, and creative outlet.
[edit] Election to the Office of Sherriff
As Antonito's Police Chief for 21 years, Gurule worked with several Town Boards. Chief Gurule practised "community-based policing" long before it was a political buzz-word. Gurule ran as the Democratic Party candidate for the position of Conejos County sheriff against Republican Dale Ruff in November 2006. Gurule won election to the office of sheriff by a margin of 2-1.
