By Nate Leskovic
Times Staff
10/2/08

(previous)
Paris described himself as a regular guy and a family man. He has two daughters, Ashley and Jacqueline, and a son, Charlie who is a Braintree police officer. He met his wife, Martha, in elementary school in Milton. His parents still live in town. They are at Pinetree Brook.
Though he moved after getting married, Paris said Milton still feels like home.
“I probably spend a whole lot more time here than in Braintree,” he said. “Everyone knows me. I’ve been here forever.”
Paris looks forwards to watching the Bruins, Red Sox and Patriots, and tries to play golf as often as possible.
“Any golf course is good as far as I’m concerned,” he said, adding that he travels to warm locations in Florida, Arizona and the Caribbean during winter to keep playing all year round.
“You never beat the golf course,” said Paris about the sport’s appeal. “It’s challenging, quiet and relaxing.”
He chose his career because he wanted to “make a difference and help people.” He said he also wanted to ensure his day job stayed interesting and didn’t keep him tied to a desk. His desire to be out in the community is evident as he speaks about his new role.
Paris said he is excited about the dialogue with residents he’s engaged in since his appointment in the summer. He stressed the importance of relations between the police department and the people it serves.
“I’m going to a lot of community meetings and meeting a lot of neighborhood groups,” he said. “It gives me an opportunity to better understand what the issues are.”
Paris said it’s important to “put a face” on the police department.
“Although times change, issues don’t change,” he said. “Everyone still has the same desires. They just want a peaceful existence.”
Paris said most concerns center on traffic, youth problems and basic quality of life. Though these concerns may be expected, he said going to the source makes the difference.
“They can tell you what’s going on in their community better then me driving around in a cruiser,” he said.
Paris attended police academy with Kevin Mearn, former police chief and current town administrator, and worked his way up through the ranks to the position of lieutenant detective before becoming
a deputy.
As the administrative deputy chief, Paris works
on grant writing, maintenance and other necessary tasks to keep the department running. It’s far away from the night back in 1983 when he and fellow Deputy Chief Paul Nolan were attacked for no understandable reason.
Both Paris and Nolan were shot near Central Avenue — Nolan seriously.
As Nolan drove down the street in his cruiser, he thought someone threw a rock at him. When he got out to ask a man nearby if he had seen any kids, the man opened fire on him and ran behind a house. Paris went searching for the assailant and was shot in the back of the left arm.
While Nolan’s multiple gunshot wounds required a hospital recovery, Paris was not hurt badly and actually assisted in apprehending the man a few houses away. He was later treated in the hospital and released.
“He was obviously somewhat crazy,” said Paris. “I don’t know if he thought we were after him?”
Not dwelling on “ancient history,” Paris said he’d rather discuss his current positive contributions to the town than that fateful night.
“It’s about going out into the community and finding out what the concerns are,” he said. “Answering questions and making yourself available, regardless the issue. From traffic to a homicide.”
Paris said he wants to see patrol officers leave their cars and speak with residents, and superior officers get out of the office and engage the community.
“It’s to get a feel for what (people) expect from the police department and to hopefully give them the product they’re looking for,” he said.
With 32 years behind him, Paris jokes that he needs at least five more years to pay off his children’s college tuition. But when the time comes for retirement, he’ll be sticking around.
“My life won’t change much,” he said. “My family is all around here, I can’t see me going anywhere.”