Before Joe Murray took the civil service test to become a police officer, he’d never been to Hamilton.

However, he’s very well known throughout the city he has gotten to know very well over the past 33 years. As of Friday, Murray, 56, retired as a captain and as the operations commander for the Hamilton Police Department.

A native of the Dillonvale area of Cincinnati and a graduate of St. Xavier High School, he said his career “has gone by fast.”

“I couldn’t have asked for a better 33 years and I wouldn’t change a day in my life here,” Murray said. “The city has been great and the friendships fostered have been great. I’ve been very blessed.”

Murray said he became a police officer to help people and to make a difference.

“I hope I have,” he said.

Murray, who went to the University of Kentucky on a wrestling scholarship, graduated with a degree in social work. He learned from his roommate, who was the son of the principal of Garfield High School, that Hamilton was giving the police exam.

In August 1979, he became a Hamilton police officer and worked his way up the ranks of detective and sergeant. Murray served as a patrol shift lieutenant for seven years and was promoted to captain and operations commander for the past 14 years. He took the test for police chief, but Neil Ferdelman placed first.

“I took the test because I’m highly competitive, but I have no regrets and I’ve never pined away from it,” he said.

“I’ve loved every job I had here,” Murray said. “Each one had more responsibility and a broader spectrum in making decisions.”

Over the years, Murray said the department has worked to being more part of the community and tried to break barriers when possible. He said various programs the department started such as foot patrols, using Segways, horse patrols, and the citizen police academies have helped the community know police officers as people.

“Even when certain segments in the community don’t agree, it helped to get a dialogue going,” he said. “Once they understand who we are, it’s easier to break barriers.”

Murray said shrinking budgets have forced the department to end many of these programs.

Among his closest friends is Chief Scott Scrimizzi, who until this past March reported to Murray as the lieutenant in charge of the Detective Division.

Scrimizzi said he met Murray about a year before he joined the department. He said he and Murray had a lot in common and have been close friends.

Scrimizzi said when he thinks of Murray, the terms like brilliant, innovative, thinking outside of the box and awesome comes to his mind.

“Clearly he will be missed,” Scrimizzi said. “He’s a one of a kind guy and he’s just a unique individual.”

Scrimizzi didn’t work closely with Murray until he became a sergeant. He said Murray is hardly ever in a bad mood and is a practical joker who keeps things lively in the administrative offices. He also said Murray likes working behind the scenes to get things done. Scrimizzi said that Murray has never called in sick during his 33-year-career.

“He loves what he’s doing,” Scrimizzi said.

Ferdelman said the department was blessed to have Murray as operations commander.

“He’s really a competent and level-headed guy,” Ferdelman said. “He has a lot of expertise and a real talent to get things done behind the scenes… He’s an excellent police officer and an excellent administrator. That’s where he really shined.”

Sgt. Brian Robinson, who is president of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge that represents the patrol officers, said during his first years as a police officer, Murray was his patrol shift lieutenant.

“He really motivated you and he was very fair,” Robinson said. “He’s one of the most intelligent persons I know. He thinks outside of the box and is well-respected throughout the community.”

“Some people leave a mark behind when they leave but he’s going to leave a legacy,” Robinson said.

Murray said he’ll miss the challenges of his job, which he described as “fulfilling.” He says he doesn’t have any specific plans now that he’s officially retired but said he plans on working somewhere. His wife Debbie retired last school year but is working three days a week as a speech and language pathologist.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Murray said. “It’s surreal.”

“I never looked at myself as management or labor,” he said. “I tried to do what’s best for the Police Department and the city of Hamilton’s interests.”