SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It was a final roll call Thursday night for a very special Philadelphia police officer.
Corporal William Clark is retiring from the 12th district in Southwest Philadelphia after more than 47 years on the job.
Clark is the longest serving officer in the department.
He joined the force in July of 1969, and didn't take a sick day for 12 years.
Before leaving, Corporal Clark made a point to introduce a young officer, whose grandfather he knew during police academy all those years ago.
Corporal Clark told us it was the hardest night of his career.