Community remembers former Rindge Police Chief Frank Morrill

Former longtime police officer and Rindge Police Chief Francis “Frank” Morrill Jr. is being remembered as a mentor to the leaders that came after him, building community connections and his infectious personality.

Morrill died unexpectedly on Dec. 27, at the age of 59.

Morrill was a member of the Rindge Police Department for 10 years, serving as chief from 2012 until he retired from law enforcement in 2014. Prior to joining the Rindge department, he served in Peterborough, Bennington and Hancock. Morrill joined the Peterborough Police Department in 1991 as a part-time officer, and became a full-time officer in 1998 before joining the Rindge Police Department.

His daughter, Amanda Dresser, said the best memories of her father were him showing his “silly and goofy” personality.

“He had a lot of good jokes – and an equal amount of dad jokes,” Dresser said. “He was a really fun and involved dad growing up.”

Dresser said her father helped her build forts in the neighborhood — tree houses and snow forts — and was always up for hosting a sleepover or bringing her and her friends to the drive-in. As adults, he made sure to continue to spend special one-on-one time together through a shared love of the Boston Bruins, attending multiple games together throughout the season. She said he was equally involved with her two children — Carson, 3, and Finley, 1.

“He loved them, so much,” Dresser said. “There was no one better than my dad for chasing my son, Carson, around the playground. He was willing to try out every swing and play structure. He was fully present and immersed in being a child with them.”

Morrill’s wife, Priscilla, first met him while she was writing her column, “Single in a Small Town,” for the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. She said Morrill had commented on the column to his then-boss, Chief Mike Sielicki. He had said the column was pretty good, and Sielicki told him he should tell her himself – as she was just down the hall getting police logs for the Ledger-Transcript. Before Priscilla left, he asked for her email, and then directed her to give it to Morrill, telling her, “He’s the one who wants it.”

Priscilla Morrill said Frank took her on a first date to a New Year’s dance at Hidden Hills, and her column became a tracking of their growing relationship.

“He was Mr. Right,” she said, adding that he had a good sense of humor, changing the lyrics of songs to make her laugh and telling the same stories over and over, but never quite in the same way, always finding some new slant to take.

Priscilla Morrill said Frank was devoted to his family, loved to spend time with his daughter, grandchildren and nieces and traveled every other weekend to spend time with his mother in Laconia and make sure she was taken care of following the death of his father.

Morrill was a mentor to those who served under him in his time as police chief in Rindge, including two officers who went on to become chiefs in their own right. Dan Anair, who served as chief from 2017 to 2021, was a newly appointed detective when Morrill joined the department as a sergeant.

“We couldn’t have gotten along any better. We instantly bonded,” said Anair. “I helped him understand the nuances of the town, and he helped me develop throughout my career. We worked a lot of lonely nights together, and Frank would always find a way, somewhere around 2:30 or 3 in the morning, when it feels like it’s dragging, to lighten the shift – something to make you laugh.”

Anair said Morrill “exuded professionalism” on the job, and he believed the way an officer presents himself or herself was crucial to putting people at ease. He said they were also friends outside of work and enjoyed cycling together, including taking rides during the winter months on an indoor track.

Rachel Malynowski, Rindge’s current police chief, also served with Morrill, joining the force around the same time in 2004, and said he was a mentor to her.

“He was just a genuine person. He was very personable, and very outgoing to the people he knew, and was a jokester behind closed doors, and an utmost professional in the field,” Malynowski said. “I could go on for days about his jokes and mannerisms – he’s just someone you look back on and have nothing negative to say.”

Malynowski said Morrill had a open door, and was willing to give guidance whenever needed.

“He was a friend, a mentor and a leader,” Malynowski said. “He took his job very seriously. Anyone can be a supervisor, but it takes more than that to be a mentor and a leader.”

Anair praised Morrill’s work in building connections with the Crime Watch and Franklin Pierce University.

“Those were huge feats that people forget how hard he worked for, to make sure we had a community that supported each other back and forth,” Anair said.

Holly Koski of Rindge said she first met Morrill when she was serving as president of Rindge Crime Watch, and said it was that attitude that caused her to push for his promotion to chief, helping to arrange for a citizens’ petition asking for him to be promoted.

“Frank was all about community,” Koski said. “He was constantly doing something for the community. He was so community-oriented. He cared about Rindge. He had gone to Franklin Pierce University, and he cared about everybody in town.”

Following his career in law enforcement, Morrill joined the security team at Monadnock Community Hospital, where he was working as the security supervisor at the time of his death. His former colleague at MCH and close friend, Kevin Brace, said Morrill had a bright personality.

“Frank was one of those unique people that always had a twinkle in his eye. He never passed up an opportunity to make a dad joke. He was one of the nicest people I ever met,” Brace said.

According to Brace, Morrill was one of the first people he met when he moved to the area, and they quickly became close friends, sharing backyard barbecues and Morrill becoming a psuedo-uncle to Brace’s children.

“He always went the extra mile for everybody,” Brace said. “If there was ever a time I needed something, he was right there to help.”

Calling hours will be held on Jan. 10 at the Hope Fellowship Church, 16 Prescott Road, Jaffrey, from 3 to 6 p.m. A law enforcement walkthrough will begin at 3 p.m., immediately followed by friends and family. Parking will be in the church parking lot. Law enforcement staging will begin at 2:30 p.m. Class A/dress uniform is requested.

A funeral mass will take place on Jan. 11 at the St. Patrick Catholic Church, 87 Main St., Jaffrey, at 11 a.m. Morrill will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Laconia, in a private family ceremony.

The flags at the Rindge Police Department and the Jaffrey-Rindge Memorial Ambulance have been set at half-staff until the conclusion of services for Morrill. The Rindge Police Department officers will display a mourning band on their badges as a sign of respect and to honor Morrill’s service.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.