Story posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Deputy Police Chief To Retire After 29 Years
By CRAIG ADAMS Journal & Topics Reporter
Taking the next step in his long-term plans, Park Ridge Deputy Chief Tom Swoboda will retire from the force on Jan. 5, 29 years to the day since he started at the department.
"I've been looking at it for a little while," he said. He explained he came to Park Ridge as a patrol officer with a plan. "I could have a long career at Park Ridge, retire at a young age, and start a second career," he said.
Swoboda graduated from Madonna College (now Madonna University) in Livonia, Mich., in 1980 after being born and raised in Nebraska. His wife was from Cincinnati, Ohio, and he knew he wanted to work in a suburban community. He was looking for a job in Indiana and Illinois and he found a consortium of seven municipalities that were testing together that included Park Ridge. "It was discouraging to see 1,700 people applying for the job," he remembered, but he was one of two officers hired from the testing.
He started as an officer on Jan. 5, 1981, moved up to detective, and then was promoted to lieutenant in November of 1989. He made commander in January 1999 and then in November of 2000, was made deputy chief by former Chief Jeffrey Caudill. Upon Caudill's retirement, Swoboda served as acting chief from March 2008 until July 2009 when Frank Kaminski took over the chief position.
In his 29 years, Swoboda saw many changes in his life and the department. "I have 13 kids," he revealed. "Eleven of them were born right here in Park Ridge." When Swoboda started in 1981, his second child was just two months old. He had 10 children with his wife before she passed away in a car accident in 1999. He remarried three years later. "I got married in 2002 to my wonderful wife. She has two daughters I now consider mine," he said. The couple then had one more child.
He explained part of being a police officer is the love of helping people. "I really appreciated to be able to live in the community," he said. "I've got a lot of ties here; I've got a lot of roots here."
He also expressed gratitude for the other "great officers" on the force and spoke of the honor of being named deputy chief. In that position, he and Caudill worked together on projects like Coffee with the Cops and being part of the Youth Commission and Teen Board. "Over the years, we've done a lot of outreach."
Swoboda had a second job for 20 years working security for High School Dist. 207. He also served as a member of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System for 15 years. "That was very very rewarding because you get to work with some of the best officers in this northwest suburban area," he said.
Many of those experiences may lead Swoboda to a second career in teaching high school students. "I love working with kids," he said. "I could look for a job teaching a college, but my first love would be teaching in a high school setting."
He recognizes the job market is tight right now and that he will not leave Park Ridge, restricting the size of the job hunt. "Even if I get to stay at home a few months, I won't complain," he said.
Swoboda does not know who might replace him as deputy chief. "I'm irreplaceable," he laughed, then added, "I'll leave that in the hands of the chief." The department currently has three commanders that could be looking for a promotion. "We've got plenty of capable people," he said.
"It's been a very rewarding 29 years," he concluded. "Park Ridge has been very good to me and my family. I just feel very very fortunate that I was able to land here and have such a good career."
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