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In his 21 years as an Amherst police patrol officer, Michael Johnson says, he put public service at the top of his priority list.

"I hope that for the people who called on me ... that I gave them the help they were looking for," he said.

Johnson, 55, who recently retired, adds that he always considered compassion a requirement of the job. He didn't want to be an intimidating presence.

"Something I strived for is I didn't want people to fear me," Johnson said.

Police Chief Scott Livingstone says Johnson was one of the first officers to focus on community outreach. The chief praised his ability to communicate with all populations in Amherst, from children and senior citizens to various ethnic and racial groups.

"He was heavily involved in every community policing initiative we've had," Livingstone said. "He could lead a neighborhood meeting with the professionalism of a seasoned officer, teach a group of 8-year-olds the fundamentals of teamwork at our ropes course and could chase and apprehend a fleeing felon."

Johnson's other work for the department included teaching the anti-drug DARE program to children, overseeing a mentoring program at Wildwood School and serving as a certified child seat inspector.

Most recently, Johnson was a bicycle patrol officer.

In 2005, he earned a Heart Saver Award from the American Heart Association for saving a woman's life.

Johnson was also a field trainer for new police officers.

Lt. William Menard says he was inspired by Johnson's professional and common-sense attitudes.

"He was a role model for us young officers coming out of the academy," Menard said.

Johnson, the son of Anne and the late Rebert Johnson, grew up in Bridgewater with six brothers and two sisters. He worked for more than a dozen years in the construction industry in the eastern part of the state before pursuing a career in law enforcement.

A Belchertown resident and single father of three children whose mother died nearly two years ago, Johnson says he expects to move back to the Bridgewater and Brockton area with his daughters, ages 15 and 12, and his 16-year-old son at the end of the school year.

He says he will be happy to leave parts of the job behind. "I'm tired of arresting people and seeing people hurt," Johnson said.

Johnson's retirement photograph will be hung in the police station's roll call room, joining those of 26 other officers. The practice began in 1957 with the retirement of Clarence Jewett. The photographs honor officers who retired from the department after serving at least 10 years.