GUSTINE – The city will advertise for police chief candidates, City Manager Margaret Silveira said last week.

The Gustine Police Department has been led by interim chief Devon Stavrowsky since late February, when former Police Chief Kris Anderson was placed on leave following his arrest on suspicion of DUI. Anderson subsequently retired.

Silveira stressed that she is not ruling out the possibility that Stavrowsky will be named the city’s next chief of police.

“Devon will definitely be in the running for the position, but we are opening it up to allow anybody else with an interest in applying as well,” Silveira said. “We are hoping to get the announcement out this week, and are looking to have at least a 60-day open period.”

There is one potential impediment to the city’s recruitment effort, however, as the police chief salary will stay in the low $70,000 range.

“The last chief’s salary was a little over $72,000,” Silveira said. “Under the budget constraints we are in right now it would be very difficult to increase that.”