Lt. Donald Callahan, a 37-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, was celebrated with a surprise 50 car drive-by parade Thursday evening in recognition of his retirement day. At around 5:30 p.m., a procession of police cruisers and civilian vehicles rolled by Callahan’s Adams Street residence in a flurry of flashing lights, honking horns, and handmade signs.

Callahan, 65, served in the Air Force before joining the BPD in 1983, where he worked at several districts covering Boston neighborhoods like East Boston, West Roxbury and Hyde Park. Speaking just after the parade, Callahan thanked his family for their support and said he’ll miss the BPD, which he called “the best department in the country.”

Lt. Callahan with his wife, Jean, and daughters Nicole and Melissa.

Liz Schnaible, Callahan’s niece, said the lieutenant “was always taking care of us. He was like a second dad to everyone in the neighborhood.”

Family friend Shalin McDonough recalled with a laugh how Callahan would “do background checks on all of our boyfriends.”

Callahan is “the most modest, humble person you could meet,” said his daughter Melissa.

When asked how it feels to be retired, Callahan responded simply: “It feels good.”