Friday was Deputy Police Chief Mark Marino’s last day on the job, and, as the head of Parking Services, he spent about an hour fielding parking proposals to the Board of Selectmen. At the end of the meeting, Chief Jim Heavey wished Marino the best and announced his recommendation for the next Deputy Chief.
“I have the honor and privilege to recommend to you Captain Kraig Gray for the position of Deputy Chief, to fill Deputy Chief Marino’s position. Kraig is a 30 year career Greenwich police officer who has held many positions over many years.”
Chief Heavey said Gray was well known in town, not only for all his good work as a police officer, but as the public information officer for the department.
Deputy Chief Gray has a bachelor’s degree from UConn and a master’s degree from Marist in public administration.
He currently commands the Detective Division. His past assignments include Patrol Officer, Patrol Field Supervisor, Shift Commander, Patrol Executive Officer, Professional Standards Lieutenant and Public Information Officer.
Captain Gray served in the US Army on active duty and in the Reserves. He served in West Germany, Fort Dix New Jersey, the Philippines and Kuwait. He retired from the Army Reserves in 2007.
Gray became a police officer in 1992. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2000 and to Lieutenant in 2007. He was promoted to Captain in 2017.
He has received numerous letters of commendation and was a founding member of the Greenwich Police honor guard.
“He has a vast knowledge and understanding of the workings of the Greenwich Police Dept,” Heavey said. “Without reservation, I would recommend him to the Board of Selectmen to be the next Deputy Chief of the Greenwich Police Dept.”
“Having known Captain Gray for many years, he has always been helpful and communicative, very well liked, a very hard worker, knows the town inside and out, and I look forward to working with him in this position,” said First Selectman Camillo, who also serves as the town’s Police Commissioner. “He’s a good choice.”
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin said she had spoken to Deputy Chief Gray. “Thank you for taking the time to contact me and discuss some of the future opportunities, especially as you take over Parking Services because it is critical to some of the work we’re doing on the ReImagine Greenwich committee.”
Selectperson Jill Oberlander shared a quote from Gray with his permission. “He commented on the department as having superior law enforcement personnel and practices and his philosophy is ‘mission first, people always.’ I thought that was telling of our police department.”
Director of Human Resources Mary Pepe said the search included outside candidates.
“No one else even came close to all of our internal candidates,” she said. “Our internal candidates were extraordinarily well qualified.”
The Selectmen voted unanimously on Captain Gray’s promotion to Deputy Chief.
Chief Heavey announced that there will be a ceremony at police headquarters on Monday, June 14 to mark Gray’s promotion, as well the promotion of a captain, a lieutenant and a sergeant due to the succession of changing of areas of responsibility.
Deputy Chief Gray thanked the Selectmen for their confidence.
Reached by phone after learning of his promotion, Deputy Chief Gray said, “I am looking forward to serving the citizens of Greenwich in this new role. I recognize it is critical to the health and safety of the community and I will do my best.”
He said that in his new role his responsibilities will include managing Professional Standards and General Services, including records management, as well as Parking Services.