A standing ovation marked the end of NYPD commissioner Bill Bratton's final weekly crime briefing at 1 Police Plaza Thursday morning. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.

A standing ovation for Bill Bratton at police headquarters Thursday morning as he attended his last CompStat meeting. That's where NYPD leaders crunch crime numbers, using the data as a guide for deploying officers. 

"A morning of mixed emotions for me," Bratton said. "So much of my identity is associated with this room, this process and the things that go on here."

Back in 1994, when Bratton was NYPD commissioner the first time around, he and his team started CompStat. Crime already had begun to ease, but under Bratton, the decline became dramatic. Since then, murders in the city have plunged an astounding 82 percent. 

"The overall crime decline in this city that you can take great credit for, 76.48 percent in those 22 years," Bratton said.

During his last full day as commissioner, Bratton also spoke at NYU's Law School about policing and technology. Then, he dashed over to the leadership and public services high school to tout a 35 percent reduction in school crime in the last five years. 

It clearly appeared he was excited about inching closer and closer to his Friday retirement.

"There is a certain amount of relief that comes from relinquishing the responsibility of the public safety of eight-and-a-half million people," Bratton said.

He says he will no longer have to worry about his phone going off about tragedies throughout the day.

But, what about any regrets as NYPD Commissioner?

"Any disappointments are more than offset by the satisfaction of what's been accomplished," he said. "And the disappointment of things not accomplished, a lot of them are in the works."

And his message to police officers?

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to work with you, to lead you and, most importantly to keep trying to tell your story. There are many who don't want to hear it, but you are the best, you are the finest. Thank you," Bratton said.

With that, he went on what was called his final patrol: a ride on the city's subway, the transit system where he first served as police chief in 1990.