Montgomery Public Safety Director Chris Murphy announces retirement

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Chris Murphy

Montgomery Public Safety Directory (MPDS) Chris Murphy will retire from city service at the end of year after seven years with the city and 40 years in law enforcement.

“It has been my privilege for the last seven years to serve as Mayor [Todd] Strange’s director of Public Safety for the city of Montgomery, and this is also my 40th year in front-line public safety and law enforcement work,” said Murphy. “It is time now to welcome a new season in my life and a different sort of challenge.”

The Auburn University alum has served as MDPS director since October 2010. He began his career in law enforcement with the Auburn Police Department in 1978. In 1981, he took a position with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as a special agent. In 1985, he joined the U.S. Secret Service, where he worked protection for seat presidents and vice presidents spanning from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush. Upon his retirement from the Secret Service, former Ala. Gov. Bob Riley tapped Murphy to serve on his Cabinet as the director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety (ADPS).

The Montgomery Department of Public Safety is the parent agency for all safety-related operations in the capital city. The department was formed in 2010, when Murphy came onboard, to streamline public safety services, increase efficiency, and better serve the public.

Upon his retirement with the city, Murphy will join Merletti, Gonzales & Associates, an international security consulting firm, that was form formed by his former U.S. Secret Service colleagues.

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange plans to name Murphy’s replacement within  10 days.

Murphy’s last official day of city service is Dec. 31.