Richard Lewsen, who has served as the town’s police chief since January 1989 and been on the force since its founding in 1976, retired Thursday.

At an afternoon change of command ceremony, Lewsen formally relinquished control of the department to Kevin Schofield, who had been Bridgton’s police chief since 2011, and was escorted to his home in Windham, according to Lt. Jim Boudreau. It ended a busy week for Lewsen, who was feted at a retirement party held at Windham Town Hall on Monday afternoon.

Lewsen, who started as a Windham Police Department sergeant when it formed in 1976, said he was excited for retirement at the ceremony held Monday, which was attended by about 80 well-wishers.

“I feel good but I think I will feel better come Friday,” Lewsen said Monday. “I can feel the stress coming out of me right now.”

Asked to comment on the highlights of his career, Lewsen said, “I went to the FBI National Academy in 1991 and that was great – really, really great.”

Greg Hanscom, Windham’s first police chief, hired Lewsen into the four-person department when it was first established, and attended the ceremony Monday. The department now has 26 sworn officers.

“I hired Rick,” Hanscom said. “He was a Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy and he’d been assigned to the patrol area of Windham. People were familiar with Rick. They knew that he was a smart guy, professional, hard working, ethical man. He kind of set the tone for what we wanted to do with the department. Rick worked hard to do that back when we first started in October of ’76 and he’s continued to do it through his career – it’s a real attribute to his abilities.”

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said that Lewsen has been supportive of his former employer through the years.

“He’s been a great support of backing up the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office,” Joyce said. “Twenty years ago it was not uncommon for one of the deputies to need backup up in Naples and a Windham police officer would be up there at 3 in the morning. Chief Lewsen has really fostered that relationship, I know that Chief Schofield will continue that.”

Schofield joined the Windham police force on April 20. A native of Massachusetts, Schofield moved to Freeport in 1982 and has served in law enforcement in Maine for 29 years. Schofield served as a patrol and school resource officer on the Topsham Police Department for four years, and worked on the Brunswick police force for 21 years. He left that department as commander.

Schofield, who will receive a starting salary of $76,355, holds an executive certification from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Southern Maine Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s degree in organizational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. Lewsen will receive $87,620 this year.

David DeGruchy, a 36-year member of the department who retired as lieutenant Jan. 4 and attended Lewsen’s retirement party, described Hanscom and Lewsen as the “two founding officers of the department.”

“They always insisted on integrity and honesty, both of them, over the years,” he said. “Kevin Schofield, the incoming police chief, I know, will insist upon the same, because he’s a very good person and a very good choice for the job.”

Windham Town Council Chairman David Nadeau, right, offers his hand to retiring Windham Police Chief Richard Lewsen at a retirement party at Windham Town Hall Monday afternoon.Retiring Windham Police Chief Richard Lewsen with incoming Windham Police Chief Kevin Schofield. Staff photo by Ezra SilkLt. Jim Boudreau, left, and Officer Jason Burke examine old newspaper clippings and photos detailing the history of retiring Windham Police Chief Richard Lewsen’s 38-year career. Staff photos by Ezra SilkA going-away gift of a toy utility police interceptor was displayed at Windham Police Chief Richard Lewsen’s retirement ceremony.