Stoughton Police Sergeant Thomas Murphy Retiring After 30 Years

Picture patrolling an event at the park. It's a scorching summer day with temperatures in the mid nineties. Your job is to look out for people and make sure they stay safe.

Sergeant Thomas Murphy worked a lot of days like this in his 30 years as a Stoughton Police officer. He said many of these days were his fondest memories because the Stoughton community would have his back just as much as he had their's.

"People would engage me with a good memory and ask if I needed water," said Murphy. "This community really cares about each other."

Murphy's time in the Stoughton community started long before he became a police officer. He grew up in town and was a substitute teacher at the North Elementary School (now Joseph R. Dawe Elemntary). Even though Murphy has since moved, it's never felt that way to him.

"Although I don't live in the town anymore, I never left," Murphy said.

Murphy in his own words would say he was never given the chance to leave, but he's happy for it. After he was hired in September, 1988, now retired Police Captain Jake Reed asked Murphy if he'd be the town's first DARE officer. At first, Murphy said, "No." The option wasn't a real choice though. Reed responded by saying, "No, you will."

Working as a DARE officer at North Elementary School is how Murphy would meet his wife. She was a teacher. According to Murphy, it was how kind she was to the students that first drew her to him.

Murphy said, "I appreciated how she treated the students and I wanted to be treated like that too."

The Community And The Years Since

Over those past three decades, Murphy would work in a variety of roles within the Stoughton Police Department including lieutenant, administrative roles, and interim police chief. He said it was and honor and pleasure to serve in them all.

According to Murphy all of these roles had their own unique challenges, but they were never too hard because he had a good team around him who cared about making things better.

"Despite the issues, I have to address, hopefully the end result is a positive change," Murphy said.

Coworkers and others in the community praised Murphy for the positives he's brought to Stoughton over the last 30 years.

Stoughton Police Program Administrator Kande Depont said his knowledge and sense of humor will be missed. "He's smart," said Depont. "He knows a lot about the law and it's going to be a great loss for me to lose him."

Murphy trained Dupont. She attributed everything she learned in her three years at the police department to him. Dupont also said Murphy's outgoing personality was an asset to the entire department, especially with the women in the office and interns.

"We call him one of the girls," joked Dupont. "He's always been friendly to the women in the office. He went to lunch with them. He was great with interns too."

At the July 2 Board of Selectmen meeting, Selectmen Chair Robert J. O'Regan lauded Murphy for his achievements. He said, "Since 2010, he’s been instrumental in having the Stoughton Police Department achieve Massachusetts Police accreditation, one of the first police departments to do so.”

O'Regan also spoke highly of Murphy's work with the children in the Dare program.

“I remember when our kids were small," said O'Regan. "Officer Murphy would be coming into the schools to talk to them and they were always excited to see him.

The appreciation for Sergeant Murphy is physically visible even in town center. The sign outside the State Theatre reads, "Congratulations Sgt. Murphy on your retirement."

When asked about the sign, Murphy said it was great to see that level of appreciation.

What's Next for Sergeant Murphy?

Murphy said he's unsure what he wants to do in his retirement because doing something meaningful in a community he cares for is all he knows.

"I'll take time to reflect and do something with purpose like this," Murphy said.

As he leaves, he wants people in town, especially those who wish to serve in law enforcement to know one important lesson.

"Most people are good," said Murphy. As a police officer you try to help people through a bad day or situation. In the end try to be that positive role model and take the time to actually listen to people. See the effect you have."

Sergeant Murphy's official last day as a Stoughton Police Officer is July 13. The Board of Selectmen on July 2 voted unanimously for July 13 to be Sergeant Thomas Murphy Day.