Citizen Spotlight: Frank Gatulis

After a 30 year career as a Software Engineering Manager Frank Gatulis retired from Hewlett Packard. He originally began working at Digital, which became Compaq and then Hewlett Packard.  A couple of years in to retirement Gatulis was looking for a way to incorporate more social interaction into his daily life and was offered an opportunity to volunteer at the Medway Police Department by Allen Tingley who was then the Lieutenant, in October 2004.  The general job description was for “custodial and some light maintenance” work.  Since then he has been volunteering 6 days a week for 1-2 hours at a time, longer when a particular task is more involved than usual. 

Gatulis is willing to take on any custodial task such as cleaning the station, washing police vehicles, repairing broken or damaged equipment, and miscellaneous yard work or snow cleanup when necessary.  “Over the years Frank has saved the Police Department a tremendous amount of money by volunteering his time,” said Police Chief Allan Tingley.  He continued, “Frank has become an invaluable member of the department and we count ourselves very lucky to know such a wonderful man.”

Gatulis has always enjoyed using his skills to help others – a trait he says he inherited from his parents.  He previously served on the board of Medway Cable and provided services and oversight to several renovation projects at the station.  These days, in addition to providing a valuable service to the Police Department he sees his volunteer commitment as giving him daily structure, commitment, social interaction, and physical exercise.  He also values the relationships he has developed with the officers and staff at the station.  “Being able to help out at the Police Department is nothing like doing a regular job.  It’s more like going out to help your friends.  The entire Police Department staff is a great bunch of people who respect each other and the people they have to deal with. I feel appreciated and it’s just a pleasure to be able help out however I can. I can’t think of a “real” job I’d rather be out doing.”