MIAMI — Try not to panic, but one half of WSVN’s beloved “Help Me Howard” segment is signing off.

Since 1999, TV reporter Patrick Fraser and lawyer Howard Finkelstein have assisted South Florida viewers with problems like rent hikes, credit card scams, noisy neighbors, evictions, accidents and life-saving transplants.

Now, Fraser is retiring. The reason?

“It’s time,” Fraser said in his final broadcast Wednesday, adding, “I don’t use the word ‘retirement.’ I’m going on vacation.”

Speaking to the Miami Herald Friday morning, Fraser was still taking it all in.

“It really hasn’t hit yet,” he admitted as all-day tributes began on air. “I will say: I think I’m the luckiest reporter in the world. I got to help people for a living.”

Fraser has been at this longer than 27 years. The University of Florida grad (Class of ‘81) and longtime Gators fan originally from Gainesville, walked into the station almost exactly 40 years ago, Jan. 4, 1986, as a general assignment reporter.

Among the bigger stories he covered in the early years: Pope John Paul II’s visit to South Florida, the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in South Miami-Dade and the wild “Cocaine Cowboys” era in Miami.

Fraser interviewed U.S. presidents, serial killer Aileen Wournos and Adam Walsh murder suspect Ottis Toole (”scary”). His more adrenaline-filled adventures include bungee-jumping out of a hot air balloon in Southern California (”I never said I was smart”).

Despite the major headlines, Fraser will be best be remembered for “Help Me Howard,” a segment devoted to desperate folks in the community who have nowhere else to turn.

So how did the pairing with Finkelstein come to be?

Fraser explains that he originally began working alongside the retired Broward County public defender in 1995, when he was brought in to provide legal analysis for the O.J. Simpson “Trial of the Century.” Their natural chemistry and banter went “viral” before that was even a term.

“We needed someone who knew the criminal system and loved to talk, and Howard was the guy,” Fraser recalled. “Our ratings blew up. After the trial ended, the station told us we needed to continue to do something together.”

“Help Me Howard” originally began with Finkelstein giving free legal counseling from the newsroom to viewers, fbut that quickly evolved.

“We said, ‘This isn’t fun. We need to get out there and connect with these people in person,’“ Fraser recalled. “Because solving their problems wasn’t that hard for us. Like, if someone needed to get their security deposit back, we would do our research, find similar cases, check the laws and get to work for them.“

The popularity of “Help Me Howard” hasn’t waned, with WSVN getting up to 50,000 requests a year. On any given weekend, Fraser will receive between 200 and 300 voicemails and emails.

Though the duo has been able to help up to four people a week, Fraser wishes he could have done more.

“When we first started this, we thought it would die out, but problems get worse and keep piling up,” he said. “It’s not about being ripped off at the car dealership anymore. Now we hear about people losing food stamps, their rents skyrocketing, not being able to afford groceries.”

In his finale, Fraser couldn’t possibly list everyone who has approached them with a host of prickly issues, starting with something as small as a traffic ticket.

But the highlight reel had to include Margaret Dagle, who desperately needed a liver transplant.

“She stays with me because it was the toughest,” he said “We called hospitals, government officials, banged on doors. We wouldn’t stop until we got her one.”

So what’s next now that Fraser will no longer be channeling a guardian angel/social justice warrior?

Travel is definitely in the cards.

Fraser and his wife, WSVN’s VP of News Alice Jacobs (who is retiring at the end of January), already sold their home in Miami Shores and are plotting their next move from a rental in Fort Lauderdale.

“We aren’t sure where we want to go, maybe see the country, or travel to another country,” said Fraser, who has a 23-year-old daughter, Emma, with Jacobs. “We need a lot of room because my wife and daughter love horses.”

One thing is for sure: Fraser will be still be helping folks in some capacity: “There’s nothing like it — no better feeling.”

“It was never about us — it’s always been about you,” Fraser tells viewers in his final broadcast as he bid goodbye to his longtime partner.

“Patrick, working with you has been a blessing,” Finkelstein said. “You have created something that has changed the lives of so many. ... I want to say thank you for everything, my friend.”

Finkelstein, will stay on watch, now joined by reporter Brandon Beyer, who starts Monday.

Fraser gave his successor his stamp of approval, saying the Kansas City native will “do great because he has a big heart.”

“These are impossible shoes to fill,” Beyer said. “But it’ll be an absolute honor.”

“Help Me Howard” will continue to air at 10 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

Fraser signed off with one of his signature puns.

“Got a problem you want to depart from your life? Need someone to retire it? These guys will show it the exit sign.”

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