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MATTHEW CALL
The Union Leader





HOOKSETT -- After more than a decade of service, the town's police ambassador and self-described "chief gopher" is hanging up his aqua blue shirt to again try retirement.

Frank Gray, who in 1994 took on the part-time job of dog officer and turned himself into a valuable neighborhood liaison, is leaving his post as community services officer at the first of the year.

Gray, 75, joined the force after retiring from his career with Nynex and soon took on expanded duties by creating a safety course for fourth-graders, regularly checking on elderly residents and maintaining a database of emergency business contacts.

Gray did everything just shy of being a sworn-in officer, taking on supplementary responsibilities he said "to keep the officers on the street."

"His leaving causes a hole in our operation," said Chief Stephen Agrafiotis. "He really does many different things for us."

Gray is the town's only community officer -- he was never sworn in and was not granted arrest powers -- and invented the post upon which all facets of the department now rely.

"He does the small things people don't think about," said police commissioner Richard Bairam. "Anything the police department needs done, he does."

Gray, a former Hooksett selectman, retired in 1990 and looked forward to living on his own terms.

He envisioned crafty personal projects and exotic travel destinations before coming to miss keeping busy for 40 hours a week.

He then jumped at the chance when his friend Jim Oliver - then Hooksett police chief - offered him the job of animal control officer.

"It was only going to be part time, a little something because I was getting bored," said Gray.

Gray started the post as an on-call agent but felt awkward with the rules that he be paid while waiting for action.

That's when he started visiting businesses to update contact lists, directing traffic during car crashes or fires and enhancing an automated phone system keeping tabs on local seniors. He even started giving tours of the station.

The department rechristened Gray "community services officer," a title established specifically for him.

"He's always doing something," said Bairam. "You call him in the middle of the night and he'll go out and direct traffic. He's done an awful lot for the town."

In addition to his adjunct police duties, Gray crafted a seminar for students on animal safety. He held the seminars for a decade - finishing up his final lecture at the Memorial School last Wednesday - and called it the highlight of his ancillary police career.

"I don't know any greater satisfaction than teaching dog safety to the fourth-graders," Gray said. "The kids are great and I learn something new every year from them."

Undergoing surgeries for cancer and back problems, Gray decided to end his tenure as community officer and once again try his hand at retirement.

"It gives you a different perspective on life when you're down and out. At 75, how many years of good health are left to do the things I retired to do," he said. "I tell people, I'm not retiring from life, just from a structured schedule. I won't miss the hours; it's the people that I'll miss."

Police officials are unsure if they'll immediately hire a replacement for Gray. Agrafiotis said he would evaluate the position while working on his upcoming budget.

Gray hopes someone will take over for him and continue his duties, even just for the lure of keeping one's self busy.

"Someone can have a lot of fun doing it," he said. "I've enjoyed the hell out of it."

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