LYNNWOOD — An institution in the Lynnwood Police Department has moved on to another chapter in his life.
After 33 years of service, Deputy Chief John Szalda has retired.
“It is truly the passing of an era,” said Lynnwood Police Chief Steve Jensen. “In John’s 33 years of service he has never ceased to be a positive influence on department operations. He is respected as a law enforcement leader not only in Lynnwood but also in the entire Puget Sound region.”
Jensen and others have said it has been more than a pleasure to work with Szalda.
“He is dedicated to the Lynnwood community and has worked tirelessly in providing the best police protection possible to our citizens,” Jensen said.
He said Szalda cannot be replaced.
“You just can’t find a substitute for the lessons learned in three decades of police service,” Jensen said. “He has had a hand in the development of every officer and employee in the department and has worked in building cooperative, mutually beneficial relationships with allied police agencies and governmental entities.”
Cmdr. Paul Watkins remembers when he first met Szalda in 1983, Watkins was a rookie police officer.
“What struck me first was his dedication to the law enforcement profession, his sense of humor and humility,” Watkins said. “I’ve appreciated the guidance he’s offered over the years, his mentoring, friendship and the fine example he presents for the Lynnwood Police Department.”
Watkins added, “His leadership and dedicated service will truly be missed.”
On his second to last day before his March 26 retirement, Szalda was busy at his desk cleaning out his computer and packing his many pictures and plaques.
“I’m looking forward to retirement,” Szalda said, “I’ve been here for 33 and a half years.”
Before that, Szalda, a Marine, spent time in the Corps and was hired by Boeing when he got out. He was subsequently laid off in 1969.
“I always wanted to be a police officer and thought that was a good time to start,” he said.
He applied with the Lynnwood Police Department and was hired right out of the gate.
“I started out at $600 a month,” he said.
Szalda and his wife Joan, who also retired recently, said they will be spending a lot of their time fly fishing, traveling and with their nine children and 11 grandchildren, most of whom live in the Puget Sound area. John and Joan Szalda live in Brier.
“My 11th grandchild was just born March 24 at 8:30 p.m. at Stevens,” Szalda gleamed. “It was a boy – Jack, he was 9 pounds 10 ounces and 22 inches long — he’s a moose.”
While there were many events, cases, Szalda remembers over the years, he is especially proud that Lynnwood detectives solved the cold case of the Kim Kuntz homicide. He was a junior detective on that case when it happened in 1976, he said.
“It was very satisfying to see our detectives put that one to bed,” Szalda said.
There have been so many things that have transpired, he said, and Lynnwood has changed so much in that time, he said he has really enjoyed working in the community with the citizens and the people at the Lynnwood Police Department.
“It’s been a great career,” Szalda said. “I truly have enjoyed the community and city, they’ve been very good to me and my family.”
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