To the Editor:

My name is Peter M. Murphy and I am the recently retired Communications Supervisor and E-911 Administrator for the Wareham Police Department and the town of Wareham. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Wareham and the members of the Wareham Police Department for allowing me to serve you for 27 years and for assisting me in preforming my job. I came into the police department as the first civilian “dispatcher” under Chief Thomas A. Joyce III. Under the chief, dispatch went from part to full-time starting with one on each of the three shifts and progressing to five and currently eight full-time “communications” officers. With the acceptance of E-911 policies in the town of Wareham I was sent to training by the state and became the E-911 Administrator where I kept Wareham in state compliance. I maintained the records, not only for the police department and E-911, but also for District Court, C.J.I.S. and the F.B.I.

I would like to publicly thank:

The dispatchers and communications officers who I had the privilege of working with over the years. Eddie Johnson, Sibby Flaherty, Jody Holleran and Christian Tobia. We did a great deal of work and had, at times, some fun doing it. Thank you. I would also like to thank Peter Taggart who passed but there is not one working day that there was not a PTAG story or reminder in my head. I was the “bad” Peter and he was the “good.” I miss you.

The officers of the department who I also had the privilege of working with over the years. I have a strange sense of humor as most of you have learned but I was with you and behind you 110 percent. People do not realize what you go through day to day in this job, especially these days, and I would like to thank each and every one of you for what you do.

The police administration and command staff. From the three different chiefs, the captain, the three lieutenants, the various sergeants, the detectives and the office girls (the real command staff). You all treated me with respect and as part of “the team” which I will never forget.

Finally, officially, the Town Hall. Through the many Selectmen, and other boards who I came in contact with due to E-911 and other requirements, through the many town administrators, only one of which actually fired me, Joe Murphy, and that was only for five minutes, and all the people in the Town Hall offices, especially the girls in the Assessor’s office, you were all the greatest help a guy could ever ask for.

Finally, unofficially, I would like to thank the many, many people I came in contact with through the Wareham Police Association. The membership which is comprised of current officers and retired close friends of mine over the years have gone above and beyond to serve the Wareham community for many years. I, and they, have been actively involved with, department scholarships to area graduates, senior citizens cookouts, Christmas fireworks and toy collections, construction of the basketball courts and Police Memorial monument on Marion Road and various events such as wrestling and carnivals have been held over the years with little to no cost to the general public. I and specifically past association president, retired detective Wayne Sylvester, President Walter Correia, Secretary Daniel Flaherty saw the importance of the people of the town in seeing and coming in a positive contact with the men and women of the department. I hope that the association continues strongly.

Lastly, I would like to thank my family and friends. I live in a place called “Mervinworld.” It has been a hard working place. To live there you have to, as stated before, have a strange sense of humor, you have to be able to take a couple punches at the same time on a regular basis, and you become medically twisted and beat down but get up every minute and push on. You, or in this case, I need and have an enormous amount of support. My mom, Barbara and my dad, Michael got me through my early medical issues and set up my work ethic and attitude and I will never be able to repay them. My brother and my aunts, uncles and cousins helped me smile and made a shy, fat diabetic into the personality that I have today. My second family, my daughter, Shannen, her mother, Cheryl, and my grandson, Jordan has kept the smile on my face and lately kept an eye on me while the medical ride continues.

Almost 19 years ago with not much hope left in my future Jordan was born and a week later I was told I could get a double transplant and live seven more years. For the last 18 of those seven years I have spent every minute of my life trying to pay back all of you listed here for your various connections with me. I thank my friends. I thank you all.

Respectfully submitted,

Peter M. Murphy, retired