Officer shares last shift with family

GRINNELL -- May 21 was a special day in the life of Grinnell Police Sergeant Chris Wray.

After 40 years in law enforcement, almost to the day, Wray worked his last night shift protecting Grinnell residents and businesses.

His last official day on the job was Monday, May 26.

Wray’s dad, Larry, a veteran of law enforcement for 32-plus years, rode shotgun for a couple hours at the beginning of Wray’s last shift.

“When I got out of high school, I wanted to be a full-time firefighter,” said Wray, as the memories filled his mind.

The only problem, Wray said, was that he’s scared to death of heights.

“I became a state certified Firefighter 1 and served as a volunteer on the Montezuma Fire Department from 1989 – 1997,” said Wray. “I got invaluable training while on the department.”

That included learning life-saving training in emergency medical services that would serve him well throughout his career.

It was his fear of heights that ended Wray’s dream of being a firefighter, but it didn’t end his career in helping others.

A few years earlier, the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office had initiated a reserve deputy program.

It was Wray’s dad, Larry, who encouraged his son to consider a career in law enforcement.

“This is a chance for you to get involved in law enforcement and get some training,” Wray said his dad told him.

Wray applied and was hired as a reserve deputy in June 1985, just one month after graduating high school.

Wray remained with the department for one year before joining the Grinnell Police Department as a reserve police officer in the summer of 1986, a position he held for another year.

During this time, Wray was attending Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa where he earned an associate degree in criminal justice in May 1987.

While working as a reserve deputy in Grinnell, Wray spent time alongside Tom Kriegel, who went on to become the Poweshiek County Sheriff from Jan. 2013 – December 2024.

Wray attended the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy at Camp Dodge, graduating in March 1988.

The Montezuma Police Department had an opening, and Wray applied and was hired. Wray served on the Montezuma PD for 14-years, until November 2001.

The City of Montezuma closed its police department in December of that year and contracted with the sheriff’s department for law enforcement services.

“Then I got hired by the Grinnell Police Department as a patrol officer that same month,” Wray said. He quickly moved up the ranks to serve as a criminal investigator, then added fire arson investigator to his plate.

In May 2008, Wray was named a police sergeant, a role he held until retiring.

Wray didn’t get into any specifics of cases or crimes he worked on through the years, but he said the crimes and investigations regarding children were always tough.

“Especially having children of my own,” Wray said.

He did admit that he’s seen a lot through the years and, as another officer said, “meeting the public in their worst possible moments.”

Along the way, Wray missed some family events, school functions and holidays, but for Wray, that was his call to duty.

Wray said he’s received numerous life-saving awards throughout his career. One of the best came Monday, May 19 at the Grinnell City Council meeting. Grinnell Police Department Chief Mike McClellan honored Wray with a Distinguished Service Award, and Grinnell Fire Chief Dan Sicard presented him with a firefighter helmet.

“That was a nice honor,” said Wray.

Back to that last day on the beat. It was 6 a.m., and Wray picked up his police radio for his last end-of-shift -- 10-42 -- as a police officer.

On the other end of the line wasn’t dispatch, it was his son, Matt, who was signing off his dad from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

Matt joined the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office in December 2024, making him the third generation Wray in law enforcement.

Close by was Wray’s daughter, Mollie, who arrived at the end of his shift to videotape it all.

Wray said he’s quite proud of his children.

Matt is married to Ashley, who is a first grade teacher at Tri-County.

“They don’t have any children, but do have a fur baby named Lunna,” said Wray.

His daughter, Mollie, and her husband, Keagan Richmond, have two children, Emerson and Ian. Richmond is the director of the City of Grinnell Water Department.

“It was special having my family as a part of my last day,” said Wray. “It’s been a very wonderful career.”