FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — After 45 years of service, Capt. Gary Crain has retired from the University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD). On Friday, the university celebrated Crain with a retirement party to honor his time on campus.
Crain came to UAPD in 1985 after being a patrol officer in Malvern. He started as a police sergeant overseeing the patrol department.
Crain said he's enjoyed watching the growth of the university.
"It was big-time college sports. Since we had no professional sports teams in Arkansas, that was a wonderful benefit for me," Crain said. "When I came here there was 11,000 students now there's 33,000 students, that means there are a lot more buildings."
Almost 40 years later with UAPD he retired as Captain Gary Crain and the face of UAPD as their Public Information Officer and captain of support services.
UAPD Chief Stephan Gahagans has known Capt. Crain for 20 years and for a long time, Crain was his right-hand man.
"He would not get on his cell phone, he would not have his attention directed to something else. He was sitting back in his chair, almost like he's rocking. And he would put his fingers together like so. And I thought that was so classic," Chief Gahagans said. "He was the primary person that I would go to when I kind of needed that advice. Because of his historical perspective, it just made me able to go in there and get his insight on to some of the things that we might have been dealing with."
Other colleagues like Corporal Allen Porter said he is the definition of calm.
"His calm demeanor in whatever situation there is. His unwavering understanding of every situation, his vast knowledge of laws and how they apply" Porter said. "His season attitude toward police work and work. Home balance. Bar none is the reason why I'm going to be so sad to see him leave. I'm probably going to call him all the time just for advice. He's outstanding."
Crain says as for his next plans, he's relaxing.
"My wife and I are gonna seek out some beaches" Crain said. "See museums and travel and then chase the grandkids around."
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