Robert Graves, who served the town of Bow for nearly 30 years, died Thursday, March 29. He was 57 years old.

“He had a strong heart,” said former police chief and close friend Peter Cheney. “He was a big man and he left a big hole for many people that will have to be filled.”

Graves spent 22 years working for the Bow Police Department where he rose through the ranks to deputy chief.

“He was a very good team player and he was my number two, right-hand man for most of my 20 years as chief,” said Cheney. “Bob was a socializer and very caring, which made him a good criminal investigator. He had a lot of contacts because he was an easy to talk to individual.”

Jeff Jaran, the current chief of police, said Graves helped make his transition easier.

“Over the years, certainly since I’ve arrived in town, Bob has been a terrific guy, said Jaran. “He welcomed me, personally, with open arms and has always been kind and a terrific guy to talk to.

“It’s a sad day for the Bow Police Department,” he continued.

“He gave his heart and soul work habits that will make him a great police chief, said Nelson.

“Whenever you look at anybody for a leadership position, it always comes down to character and he has excellent character, first and foremost,” he said. “He has a work habit that is second to none. He works very hard, has donated a lot of hours to the community over the last four years, and he has never been one of those guys that is always looking at the clock. He’ll always stay until the work is done.

“He also has great people skills,” Nelson continued. “He fits in really well with in the department and makes great connections with the community.”

But Nelson said it is the fact that he and Connelly share many of the same values and ideals, which will make him a perfect successor.

“The good thing is that this will be a seamless transition,” said Nelson. “He’s going to bring his own leadership style and abilities and knowledge, but he’s got some short-term and longterm challenges, and I think he will do an excellent job with those.”

One of the goals the department has accomplished under the two men is receiving CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) “recognition, st department in the United States to receive such an honor.

Connelly and Nelson brought all the department’s part-time officers up to full-time standards to accomplish the task. The process revolutionized the departments procedures in terms of record keeping, inventories and system of checks and balances.

The next step, under Connelly, is to receive full accreditation under CALEA standards.

“The accreditation is a huge thing for us, it provides a great template for the community and how to run the agency and we’re going to move forward and continue in that process until full accreditation is reached,” said Connelly. “It’s a tremendous stepping stone and blueprint for the agency, which is critically important for us.”

Other goals Connelly plans to pursue are a renovation project for the police station and the continued hiring of quality officers, including two full-timers in the coming months, which he said will be a great boost in coverage for the community.

“We always work very hard to select the right fit for the agency and the community, which is critical in a small agency, particularly to make sure that the people we select understand the character of the community and what’s important in our agency,” he said.

Before coming to Dunbarton in 2003 as an executive officer, Connelly spent 10 years in Goffstown, where he rose through the ranks from patrolman to sergeant.

Prior to his employment with Dunbarton’s neighbor to the south, Connelly began his law enforcement career with the Hillsborough Police Department, where he worked for seven years as a deputy sheriff/sergeant.

Connelly holds a bachelor of science degree in organizational management and an associate of science degree in criminal justice.

He also graduated from the Command Training Program at the New England Institute of Law Enforcement at the University of Massachusetts and Leadership of Greater Concord Program.

In addition, Connelly attended the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Seminar and has obtained a professional development certificate from the Federal Emergency Management Institute.

Connelly, a member of the Goffstown Area Rotary Club, Goffstown Police Association and Dunbarton Police Association, is married with one son.

He spends his free time attending and watching hockey games, reading and biking.