JACK MINCH
Lowell Sun

SHIRLEY -- Police Chief J. Gregory Massak laughed as he joked that he has to be careful not to wear his firefighting gear when he dresses for work.

That's because in addition to being the top cop in Shirley, he's a call firefighter on the Lunenburg Fire Department, where he is a lieutenant.

He said being a call firefighter will not interfere with his work as the new chief in Shirley, and even helps him as a police officer when working emergency scenes because he understands what jobs firefighters and EMTs perform.

"Right now, the selectmen kind of agree with me that doing one job makes me better at the other," he said.

Massak joined the police department as a reserve officer in December 1984 and was promoted to a full-time officer in July 1985.

He joined the Lunenburg Fire Department in 1978 after graduating from high school.

His work as a firefighter has never interfered with his work as an officer, Massak said.

"I was a kid in Cub Scouts and foresaw I wanted to be a police officer or firefighter," Massak said. "I've been wearing a uniform ever since."

As a firefighter he can discuss departmental issues with Fire Chief Dennis Levesque.

"When he talks to me, he can talk to me at his level and it's convenient," Massak said.

Selectman David Swain said he was aware of Massak's work as a firefighter before promoting him to chief.

"He has been acting chief and also call firefighter in Lunenburg for a long time and has done both jobs extremely well," Swain said. "I think he realizes that his priority is the town of Shirley, being the chief, and he has acted responsibly in the past when issues have arisen."

Lunenburg Fire Capt. James Ricci said the department relies on call firefighters of all professions.

"Greg has been an active firefighter here on the call fire department for many years. We're aware he's a chief and are very comfortable with it," Ricci said. "We're lucky to have people willing to give their spare time (when they are) away from their full time jobs."

Massak was making about $70,000 annually as the interim chief but has not started negotiating a new contract as chief.

He makes about $20 an hour as a call firefighter, Massak said.

The firefighter duty counts toward his state pension.

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July 9, 2010