After 26 years of working at the Butler County Prison, Rick Shaffer retired Friday.

Shaffer, who has been the warden since 2011, was first hired as a corrections officer in 1989. He announced his retirement in January. He will be replaced by Joe DeMore, the former deputy warden of operations at the Allegheny County Jail.

“I feel I’m leaving the prison in capable hands,” said Shaffer, 54, of Cranberry Township.

Shaffer became warden after Rich Gigliotti retired. Gigliotti became warden in 1988.

Over the years, Shaffer said the model of corrections has changed. At first, he said it was a model where prisons were solely punishment. Now, there is a more rehabilitative model, with more programs for inmates.

“We are trying to rehabilitate people,” Shaffer said.

The equipment officers have also has changed.

“When I started, we had keys and that was about it,” Shaffer said.

Today, all of the corrections officers have handcuffs, and sergeants and captains carry Tasers.

Video visitation is also now possible at the prison. Shaffer said this is helpful for out-of-state and federal inmates who did not receive many visitors before the video capability.

A major highlight of his career was the new prison, which opened in 2009 on South Washington Street.

He said the former prison, built in the 1950s on Vogely Street, was outdated and overcrowded. Because there was not enough space, Shaffer said many inmates were kept in jails and prisons in other counties.

“We needed a new one for a long time,” Shaffer said.

As for his newly discovered free time, Shaffer said he is not sure what he will do with it, but he said he will relax at first.

County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton, prison board chairman, praised Shaffer’s decades of work.

“Rick Shaffer has been an excellent employee,” Pinkerton said. “He has been a team player.”

The county in March hired DeMore to be the new warden. His salary is $93,000 per year. Since the end of April, he has been at the prison training with Shaffer.

“Rick has been ... awesome. Showing me the way,” DeMore, 38, of Shaler Township said.

DeMore earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Slippery Rock University and is a 1995 graduate of Shaler High School.

He was hired by Allegheny County as a corrections officer in 2000. He was promoted to sergeant in 2003, captain in 2006, major in 2013 and deputy warden in 2014.

He said he is ready to take the reigns of the prison.

“I’m excited,” DeMore said.

Pinkerton said DeMore has the right qualifications for the job. He said he is organized and already has a good handle on how things are done at the prison.

“Joe, we think, is going to do a fantastic job,” Pinkerton said.

The prison has 127 employees and 375 to 400 inmates. Its budget for 2015 is $11.4 million.