FARMINGTON — For the past 29 years, Sgt. Peter Barton has spent four nights a week and most weekends patrolling the streets of Farmington.

“It’s time to do something else,” he said of his plan to retire from the Farmington Police Department. His last working day is Dec. 29, but vacation time pushes his last official day up to Jan. 7.

“We’ve talked about it for quite a while,” he said of retirement discussions with his wife, Linda.

Plans after Dec. 29 include helping her at her flower shop, Richard’s Florist in Farmington, some traveling and camping, some relaxing and mostly getting used to a new day schedule.

The one thing he’s sure of is that it will be a big adjustment for both of them. There aren’t too many wives who would spend four nights a week alone for all those years, he said.

When he first started, he didn’t know if he’d make 20 years, the retirement year for many officers. After 10 years, he figured he was halfway through. At 20 years, he thought, “I can leave but why? It’s a good job, good people,” he said of his years with the department.

Calling himself the ultimate procrastinator, Barton avoided turning in his letter of intent to retire, but things change and for a lot of different reasons, it’s time.

“I might miss it,” he said.

Likewise, the department knows it will miss him.

“Peter has been an extremely valuable asset to the department over the last 29 years,” Chief Jack Peck said. “He gets along well with the community, and his co-workers. People look up to him. He’s a loyal employee. He’s a member of our family, and we’re going to miss him.”

Barton was first exposed to police work in the service in 1971 when he worked with security. Later, while attending the University of Maine, he found himself more interested in taking law enforcement courses.

After serving for almost two years for the Pittsfield department in the late 1970s, he came here, where he’s watched the growth of the community and department.

When he first started there were eight in the department. No one left, they came here and stayed here. Now the turnover of help is higher and makes it difficult, he said.

Keeping up with the growth of technology has also brought changes to police work. Most officers now have computers in their cruisers, and cellphone use has increased in just the last five years.

“There’s a myriad of communication now. People call in complaints from their phones,” he said of drivers on the road.

His most memorable, fulfilling achievement in his life and career is still fresh in his memory.

Last Friday, he had the honor of pinning a badge on his son, Keith, 22, who graduated from Basic Law Enforcement Training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro. He has nine more weeks of training to become a state trooper, but on a personal and professional level, it’s very fulfilling, Barton said with pride.

Unlike the father, the son realized his interest in police work early on.

“It’s not for everyone, but he’s loving it and I’m very proud,” Barton said of his son, who has already worked for the Carrabassett Valley Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

While the Farmington department prepares for a move into new quarters, Barton’s retirement now means he won’t get to enjoy the new, larger space.

“I was hired out of this office, and I’m pleased to retire from it,” he said.

Barton’s position is being offered to other officers in-house first, Peck said. He’ll wait to see what happens with that before advertising the position.

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