Deputy Police Chief Paul Valente retires at the end of this week after 28 years on the Portsmouth police department.

PORTSMOUTH — Deputy Police Chief Paul V. Valente is retiring at the end of this month after serving more than half his life with the Portsmouth police department.

Asked what he would miss most, he jokingly said, "I'll miss those two or three o'clock in the night phone calls."

Mr. Valente, 55, started with the Portsmouth police as a patrolman more than 28 years ago. He served as a detective, lieutenant, administrative lieutenant, and for the last year and a half, as deputy chief.

He said his proudest achievements were in writing and administering over $4 million in grants for the department.

In 1986, he secured a grant that equipped the department with its first computer system for data filing. "Before that everything was done on index cards or handwritten reports," he said. The largest grant he worked on, earlier this decade, brought in $750,000 for computers, video cameras and radar in every cruiser, equipment for the detective division, and a radar system for the police boat. He also wrote the grant that made Portsmouth the first department in the state to be equipped with electronic ticketing. Portsmouth's grant helped other communities follow suit.

As administrative officer, he managed the computer system for police, fire, public works and town hall, and acquired the e-mail server that provides accounts for all town employees.

Prior to working with the Portsmouth police department, Mr. Valente served in the 102nd Fighter Wing of the Air Force National Guard at Otis Air Base in Falmouth, Mass. For over five years, he was a crash-rescue firefighter trained to handle aircraft emergencies. He retired a few years ago as deputy fire chief at Otis after serving more than 25 years.

Mr. Valente lives in Little Compton with his wife Billie Jane. He said he discussed retiring with his family before making the decision.

"It's time to start a second career," he said.

He has had several job offers, he said, but has made no decisions. He has asked to remain with the Portsmouth police as a reserve officer to work detail jobs.

Sunday, March 30 will be his last day.

All joking aside, he said, "I will miss it tremendously."

By Jill Rodrigues

jrodrigues@eastbaynewspapers.com