FALMOUTH — A police officer familiar to generations of residents has retired from the force.

Sgt. Bradford Walker left the Police Department recently after 35 years of service. He was a sergeant for more than 20 years and throughout his career worked rotating shifts.

Born and raised in Buxton, Walker has lived in Westbrook for the past 33 years.

“But I always felt a part of the community there in Falmouth,” he said.

In fact, even in retirement, Walker remains a part of the community, working part-time at Town Landing Market.

Though he said police work in the town was mostly routine, it was serving the people that Walker said gave him the most enjoyment.

From his service under Walker and later as his supervisor, Lt. John Kilbride said Walker was the “go to guy” for issues regarding policy and law. And Kilbride said the retired sergeant’s “laughter, keen wit and sense of humor is already missed” by the department.

Walker’s stories about “police work” in the 1970s were always a source of interest, Kilbride said, demonstrating to the department how far procedure and technology have advanced in the last 35 years.

“Brad was one of those guys that knew the story behind the story; he had a great memory of the people in the community, where they lived and all their children’s names,” he said.

It “takes years” to foster the kind of relationships Walker had with Falmouth residents, Kilbride said, adding it is impossible to replace Walker’s kind of experience and knowledge. And Walker’s commitment to the public made him all the more determined not to cut corners, Kilbride said.

“Brad always took his job seriously and made sure every complaint investigated was handled professionally and thoroughly,” the lieutenant said.

Walker said he plans to spend more time in the woods and fishing with his two grandsons, ages 3 and 6. He said he also wants to “take it easy,” continuing to work at the market and just doing whatever he wants to do.

“I figured I’d leave (the department) while I was still moving,” he said.

Peggy Roberts can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or proberts@theforecaster.net.