After more than 28 years of service, Vicksburg Police Department’s longest serving civilian employee is retiring.

Criminal investigations division secretary and crime analyst Judy Stubbs retires today following a surprise retirement party held Tuesday at the police department.

“I’m not going to cry because it’s over. I’m going to smile because it happened,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs said leaving the department was a bittersweet experience.

“I’m ready to start a new journey, but it’s also sad,” she said. “The 28 years really went by fast.”

Stubbs began her career at VPD July 16, 1987 as a records clerk. She served in that position for 18 years before becoming superintendent of records. She later became secretary for the department’s juvenile investigations division.

“She helped me a lot with the public,” said Sgt. Randy Blake, who was head of juvenile investigations during Stubbs’ tenure there. “She stayed on top of it. It’s hard to find people like that.”

After seven years in juvenile investigations, Stubbs became the criminal investigations division secretary and served under Bobby Stewart, who is now deputy chief and under current Capt. Sandra Williams.

“She was very vital to the division,” Williams said. “Being that type of person and that type of employee, you will be deeply missed.”

Williams said she first met Stubbs when she was in the records office.

“She appeared to be very quiet, shy and stayed to herself,” Williams said. “Working with criminal investigations there is nothing quiet about it. There’s no place for shyness. I knew that Judy Stubbs had some fire in her eyes.”

Williams said she told Stubbs to keep tabs on everything that happened in the division, a task she took to heart.

“When you’re gone, we know it. It’s going to be hard to fill your shoes,” Lt. Troy Kimble told Stubbs.