Whenever an opportunity arose for further training, Johnson would see that his officers were involved, Murphy adds, calling Johnson "a real innovator."

Johnson says that under his leadership, the police department has had an increased number of outreach programs with the gay and minority communities in the city and in the College.

Johnson also instituted the popular Rape Aggression Defense program (RAD), in which specially trained officers teach female students how to defend themselves from rape.

In addition to the extra police training, Kotowski says, officers negotiated a program of educational incentives into their contracts during Johnson's tenure.

With Johnson beginning his retirement, officers on the squad says that Chief Riley's transition has been successful, and that it is likely he will build on the programs Johnson initiated.

"Chief Riley can just pick up where Johnson left off, continuing with the modernization of the department and bringing it into the next few years," Kotowski says. "So far the transition seems to have gone smoothly."

While predicting a successful tenure for the new chief, Murphy says that the officers appreciate Johnson's service to the department and wish him well.

"Hopefully he'll enjoy his retirement," Murphy said. "He deserves it."

Johnson says that his time at Harvard was both rewarding and successful.

"It was one of the better experiences of my life," he says. "It's been challenging and very, very rewarding."

Johnson says he now plans to work as a part-time security consultant and will continue to live in the Boston area, as he has for more than 40 years.