“It was a great opportunity for me,” Provencher said. “Bob and I had joked a lot over the years about my taking his position when he retired.” But knowing their age difference, both Provencher and Ravenelle initially thought such a transition would be very unlikely.

“But who knew Bob was going to stay at Daniel Webster for 20 years?” asked Provencher, who resides in Merrimack with wife Debra and their daughters Kayla, 17, and Jillian, 13. “I think it's great that another Nashua police supervisor was hired to follow Bob and keep a good tradition going.”

College's administrators said Provencher's professional background makes him a good fit for director of campus safety. During the 22 years he served at the Nashua Police Department he wore a variety of hats, including eight years of supervisory experience in the department's dectives, patrol and undercover units. Among his many special accomplishments in Nashua, Provencher received the Medal of Valor for his work in a dangerous situation. He also received the Unit Action Award for a successful homicide investigation he had managed and supervised.

Provencher said what he enjoyed most while working with the Nashua police was simply “just being a cop.”

“It's all about being there for someone else, seeing the face of a victim whom you helped by arresting their violator and bringing closure to their ordeal,” Provencher said. “It's about solving a murder for remaining family members. It's about stopping and assisting a motorist who then takes the time to say ‘thank you' in a letter. It's about looking back on a career and seeing the good that you did for so many people and having been appreciated for it.”

In the short time that he's been at Daniel Webster, Provencher, in addition to changing the look of the office, has instituted a change in patrols, a change in what the department reports on, and soon to come, a change in uniforms. His department is also planning training sessions for the college community, including a health-and-safety fair, rape-and-assault lecture, and a disaster seminar. He also plans to meet with resident assistants and the student senate at their meetings, and also wants to implement an open forum for the campus community so they have the opportunity to ask him questions.

High on his priorities is changing the campus environment to a “community” campus safety environment.

Interestingly, immediately after Provencher came aboard at Daniel Webster this fall, his first big undertaking was his department's involvement in the Aviation Heritage Festival, viewed annually as a monumental task for all departments.

“I found it no problem jumping into the workload and learning right away,” he said.

So what does this former police sergeant do for relaxation?

“I enjoy carpentry, a good cigar, and working around the yard,” Provencher said. “We usually take two trips a year, one in the winter to the islands and one in the summer -- wherever it takes us.”