Friends since kindergarten, Racine police officers make the decision to hang up their badges together

RACINE (WITI) -- If you're from Racine, you've probably crossed paths with Larry Ivy and Maurice Nabors over the years. They've been on the police force for decades, and they've been friends for even longer! Now, they're turning in their badges.

Larry Ivy and Maurice Nabors have walked the halls of the Racine Police Department for more than two decades.

"It's probably one of the best jobs you can do. I loved it all 25 1/2 years I was here. I loved it," Nabors said.

You can find them by following the laughter.

Their friendship is the biggest reason why they love their jobs.

"We rode together a lot of nights. It was always fun. That's what I say with him. He made this job for for me,"Ivy said.

It's a relationship that goes back to kindergarten!

"I moved here from north Chicago and he was one of the first guys I met in my kindergarten class," Nabors said.

From the same neighborhood to patrolling the streets, they've spent their lives and their careers by each other's side.

"He's the kind of guy that's always had my back, no matter what I went through," Ivy said.

So when it came time to retire, it's a decision they made together.

"My best buddy is retiring with me, so I'll be seeing him. We're going fishing later," Nabors said.

They have protected kids at Park High School, patrolled the mall, worked the street crime unit and the major crime squad.

They inspired Nabors' son to follow in their footsteps.

"Those are big shoes to fill with the both of them," Brinelle Nabors said.

They've seen the dark side of Racine, but they've still manage to enjoy their work -- and find a way to laugh when things don't go as planned.

A Facebook post wishing them luck in retirement has gotten more than 900 likes and more than 150 well wishes.

"Just to see someone come up and say thank you, you helped someone when they're down, it's a tremendous feeling and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," Ivy said.

Ivy and Nabors say upcoming contract changes were a major reason they've decided to retire now.

Still, they say they're going out on top -- grateful to have gotten through their careers without getting hurt or having seriously hurt another person.