CARY - If you've strolled the streets of downtown Cary anytime over last 30 years, there's at least two things you can count on. One is the quaint storefront of Ashworth Drugs, started in 1957. The other is a guy named Gus, faithfully guarding it.

"He's sort of a watchdog for us," said owner Ralph Ashworth about Albert "Gus" Stevens, who turned 85 last month and has lived in Cary more than 60 years.

So much of a watchdog, in fact, former Police Chief W.J. Hunter made Stevens an honorary citizen patrolman in 2000.

It was about time -- he'd been walking his self-assigned downtown beat twice a day, rain or shine, since the late 1970s.

"'Volunteer' -- that's what it says on my badge," Stevens said, who also wears a scanner and a cell phone on his belt during foot patrols.

"It seems like Gus is always there," said Pat Bazemore, Cary's police chief. She's been with the department more than 20 years and said Stevens has been keeping an eye on West Chatham and surrounding streets ever since she can remember.

"He doesn't really do police patrol work," she said, pointing out there is a citizen's police brigade that has about 125 trained members.

Stevens is in a category all his own.

Even though he's at an age when most would hang up their honorary badges, he hardly misses a shift. Every day, including weekends, he starts his shift about 9:30 a.m. He monitors parking. He gives directions. He takes local shopkeepers' deposits to the bank for them.

Then a quick lunch break, and he's back at it until 3 p.m.

And even though he only has one eye, he doesn't miss much.

"If he sees anything that he's concerned about he will let us know and we'll address it," Bazemore said.

The Garner-born, retired grocer takes his volunteer duties seriously.

He's at every downtown festival or parade, offering assistance to thousands -- at the ready to help a lost child or report a problem to security.

But mostly, he admits, his volunteerism helps him out just as much as others.

A lifelong bachelor, Stevens said he doesn't like being alone, cooped up in his apartment. He prefers the action of the street, talking to people.

"I just made a whole lot of friends," he said.

Bazemore and Ashworth second that.

"He's a great fella," Bazemore said.

"And he looks very official," Ashworth added.