An Ashwaubenon Public Safety officer's last day at work might be one of his most memorable yet.

Tradition dictates the department gives retiring officers a big send off, but the one organized for Don Penza was nothing he could have ever expected.

With sirens blaring, lights flashing and Ashwaubenon Public Safety emergency vehicles lined up for as far as the eye could see, Don Penza's last ride arrived.

After 36 years, the officer and school liaison officer is calling it a career.

For as long as fellow officers can remember, the department has given retirees what they call their "last ride." It's an escort in one of their emergency vehicles from the retiree's home to the office.

But when it came time to plan Penza's ride, that didn't seem like enough.

"He's anywhere and everywhere at school activities, and he's truly doing it for the kids," said Ashwaubenon Public Safety Chief Eric Dunning.

As a school resource officer for more than 15 years, Penza has touched thousands of lives in ways he may never know.

Thursday, many of those kids wanted to show him what that meant to them.

Dozens of students lined the street outside Parkview Middle School, saluting, waving and cheering as Officer Penza was paraded toward the high school.

His welcome there was a full celebration and a complete surprise.

Students, teachers and staff emptied out the high school building to offer a thank you and good luck.

The high school's band topped off the celebration.

As Penza looked around, smiling, he told the principal, "A little overwhelming, I'd say."

"The public safety department has a tradition of a parade, not quite to this extent, but you know, he's affected so many kids and so many lives, we thought it would be important to have them be a part of this. And the band was a nice touch, too," says Ashwaubenon High School principal Brian Nelsen.

"I knew something was coming. I didn't know it would be this overwhelming," Penza told us after the students went back to class.

Students and staff lined up for pictures and thanks.

One student walked up to him and said, "I'm going to miss you." Penza replied, "I'm gonna miss you guys."

The whole scene is just a snapshot of the lives touched and the impact he's made in more than three decades in police work.

"What really separates Don is his character for kids, and he's a real student-centered mentor," said Nelsen.

"It's not uncommon, during the summer months especially, when there's class reunions or something like that, that I get a note or an email or a phone call," said Dunning. "They say, 'You know, if it wasn't for Don, I graduated back in the 90s or whatever, he turned my life around. He was an inspiration, and if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be where I am today.'"

As Penza rides into retirement, he looks back on a career he says he do all over again if he could.

"(You) reach your hand out to someone who thinks there's no hope, and that's what's nice about this job is... you get that opportunity," said Penza.

So what's next? Penza says nothing! He is, though, going to be busy coaching kids in the state track meet this weekend.