A new community service officer will take over duties from retiring Sgt. John Burns, the C-11 district’s longest-serving sergeant, who is leaving the post after 22 years.

Sgt. Brian Dunford, a Dorchester native, has “the perfect traits and qualities for someone to be a CSO sergeant,” Captain Tim Connolly said at a St. Marks Area Civic Association meeting on Tuesday.

“I’m very happy to have him on the team; he’ll be a very welcome addition,” said Connolly, the commander at C-11.

Dunford has served as a police officer in Roxbury and South Boston, as well as a detective in East Boston and a supervisor in Hyde Park for a year.

“I’ve been in C-11 for two days,” he told the civic group, to chuckles. “I’m very happy to be here. Obviously I’m from this neighborhood, I care about this neighborhood very much, and I care about what you guys think about how we’re doing.”

Dunford’s father, Robert Dunford, served as commander of C-11 for 11 years. He ended his career as Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief.

–JENNIFER SMITH