ROCKPORT — The 30-year career of Police Chief Mark Kelley was celebrated with a humorous and sentimental journey with present and former town employees, selectmen, and friends who filled the Opera House July 7.

The event was spearheaded by Stacey Parra, executive assistant to the town manager, and Linda Greenlaw, town clerk, both of whom have worked with Kelley for almost two decades.

Following the opening comments by Town Manager Rick Bates and Select Board Chairman Bill Chapman, several speakers stood at the podium and shared anecdotes, congratulatory well wishes, and touching and humorous tales about their friendships with Kelley.

Their comments all ran along the same theme: Kelley is a stickler for details, loves to play practical jokes, is a man of integrity and solid ethics, keeps information to himself, will not answer questions he cannot or should not, and is a devoted friend.

Lynda Clancy, friend of Kelley and an editor at PenBay Pilot, summarized his professional career by saying: “He has kept a steady eye on the community and has been a force of good through it all. He moves quietly through the world without a lot of fanfare and is a reassuring force.”

Kelley described his style as a “working chief” under which he was hired, in his final department head report in the 2016 Town of Rockport Annual Report. He wrote, “It was the upmost importance that your chief be out and seen.”

Many citizens often saw Kelley and chatted daily with him over a cup of coffee or lunch at one of Rockport’s local “watering holes.” He was considered to be an approachable chief and with his daily interactions with the public, could address or solve an issue before it escalated into a serious situation.

An unexpected speaker who traveled the most miles to join the celebration was Elliot Shepherd, a friend of Kelley from his “second home,” the New Brunswick island of Grand Manan. Shepherd said, “he has been a great friend to many.”

They both have camps on Wood Island, a short boat ride from Grand Manan, where they help to maintain and protect the island.

Holly Edwards and Clancy, friends of Kelley, have visited Wood Island, and described the place in their comments as quite possibly the most magical of spots on earth, with it’s hard-to-get-to location, winding long paths, smallness, and “yet greatness.”

Camden Police Chief Randy Gagne, the interim police chief in Rockport for the next six months, made the audience laugh with many comments about their height difference and stories when “they were both sentenced to the midnight shift” with their respective departments. Gagne said they spent time “irritating each other” but at the same time “sharpening their skills,” all the while developing a friendship that has lasted over three decades.

His comments then turned serious when he said he will always remember that Kelley was right there when his mother passed away. Gagne, who choked back a few tears when he shared this memory, said, “tough guys can cry.”

Kelley experienced the same emotion as the tributes continued on throughout the evening.

Craig Cooley, who was Kelley’s administrative assistant for the past 19 years, highlighted his keen sense of detail. He recalled that Kelley knew “off the top of his head” the miles per gallon for each cruiser, how many miles each officer drove, when oil needed to be changed for each cruiser, and when the tires needed to be replaced.

Other people added during the evening that Kelley could spot an out-of date-sticker from far away, and had memorized every local vanity plate.

John Lewis, a friend of Kelley and fellow member of the “Elite Coffee group” that meets six days a week at the Camden Deli, emphasized that “he has a lot of tread left on his tires.”

He is a great resource for the community with his expertise and knowledge, said Lewis.

As Kelley previously has said, he is not going away and wants to stay and will be involved in the town.

His first municipal volunteer role in the community will be serving on the town’s 2017 budget committee.

At the June election, Kelley received 98 write-in votes from the community which “broke the record,” said Greenlaw, who managed the election.

The final speaker was Parra, who made a presentation to Kelley of a gift certificate from the Rockport employees to use to plant some tree seedlings on “your island” to remember his colleagues and the town.

Kelley said that the warmth that the town had received him with 30 years ago remains the same.

He then received a rousing standing ovation, a perfect closure to a police chief who said he, “considered the 3,500 kids in Rockport my own.”

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com