Memories stirred as Lodi Police captain retires after 29 years
Friends, family and fellow officers gathered in Carnegie Hall on Thursday afternoon to celebrate Capt. Chris Jacobson’s retirement after 29 years of service with the Lodi Police Department where he has worked on the SWAT Team, K-9 unit and eventually headed the traffic division.
Jacobson was in seemingly constant motion before the ceremony began, darting around the room hugging his loved ones as they entered and looked for seats.
Once everyone had arrived, Jacobson presented Capt. David Griffin with a bundle of straws to make up for years of friendly office pranks. When he first moved into an office next to Griffin’s, Jacobson walked by one day and noticed an unattended soda cup on his co-worker’s desk.
Taking a pair of scissors, Jacobson cut off part of the straw, he said, and placed it back in the cup so that when Griffin went to take a sip, all he would get was air.
“I did this for years, and he never said a word. I did it today, for the last time, and he came into my office and asked me to stop cutting his straws. Dave, I figure I owe you a lot of straws. I’m going to miss you,” Jacobson said as the two embraced.
Jacobson then presented Chief Tod Patterson with an apple pie from McDonald’s, to replace one he had thrown out of a van roughly 20 years ago, Jacobson said, before Patterson returned the favor with a gift of his own.
The Miami Dolphins were beating the San Diego Chargers in the first half of a game in the 1980s, Patterson said, at a time when he and Jacobson both lived in Galt.
After the Chargers rallied to beat the Dolphins, Patterson said, the Miami-born Jacobson drove to Patterson’s house and, in a fit of rage, threw his aqua-green-and-orange Zubaz sweatpants on the lawn before driving off.
Patterson presented the pants to a stunned Jacobson on Thursday, saying that his friend should have more time to wear them as they shared an embrace of their own before Patterson addressed the audience
“There are people from 30-plus years here today. It is very humbling, in my opinion, to see how many people are in here, and they’re all here because of you, Chris,” Patterson said.
Steve Schwabauer, Lodi’s city manager, then enlisted the help of Lt. Steve Nelson and Sgt. Michael Manetti to set up orange-andwhite barricades around the podium.
Schwabauer said that 15 years ago, when he was a deputy city attorney and Jacobson was a sergeant, Jacobson suggested that Lodi use similar barricades to close off streets for events such as the farmers market, earning the nickname of “Sgt. Barricade.”
“There have been events like this all over the country where people have been hurt in accidents, but in 15 years it hasn’t happened here because Chris did this. Chris did it because he has the heart to do it. He loves his town, he loves his community, he loves his department. I have tremendous respect for your heart, I have tremendous respect for your tenacity and I will miss you greatly,” Schwabauer said.
Patterson then listed some of Jacobson’s accomplishments, including refurbishing the K-9 training field and leading the SWAT team to a gold-medal victory at the Grass Valley SWAT Competition in 2001. Jacobson also became leader of the SWAT team in 2004, Patterson said, where the two served together for years.
“Those were the best five years of my life. There were days you didn’t have to pay me to go to work. His power and passion for his community is second to none. The department is going to miss him, I’m going to miss him. What can’t be said is what you mean to me, to the people in this room and the people in this community. Thanks,” Patterson said.
Sharing another emotional embrace with Patterson, Jacobson then addressed the younger officers in the room, advising them to continue treating the Lodi community as family and challenging them to make their department better than he left it.
“I’m very fortunate to be here and I’m very fortunate to have a job that allowed me to meet so many people. This city is a family. Bend over backwards to help them. It’s not us versus them, we’re a family,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson then placed a radio on the podium. Turning it on, he waited until he found the right channel before signing off with his badge number, 89, and the police numerical code for the final time. “89, Lodi?” Jacobson said. “89, go ahead,” the dispatcher said. “89, 908,” Jacobson said. “89, 908. Thank you for your 29 years of service. Enjoy your retirement,” The dispatcher said.
Fighting back tears, Jacobson then recited lyrics from Blake Shelton’s “I Lived It,” saying that he grew to enjoy country music during his time with the department.
“Just taking my mind on a visit, back in time ‘cause I miss it. You wouldn’t know to love it like I love it unless you lived it. And man, I lived it,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson’s wife, Kelly, then removed his badge, the same badge that she had pinned on him when he was promoted to captain in 2015, before they hugged with barely-contained tears in their eyes.
Patterson presented the badge back to Jacobson, his own eyes more than a little misty, as he concluded the ceremony.
“It is my honor to present badge number 89 to retired Capt. Chris Jacobson. You can go be with your family now, Chris,” Patterson said.
Although he has no concrete plans for how to spend his free time, Jacobson said he will continue his work with Operation Enduring Warrior, taking wounded veterans through obstacle courses and ruck marches to lift their spirits.
“I have the opportunity to work more closely with Operation Enduring Warrior, but as of right now, I have no real plans,” Jacobson said.
Jacobson will also participate in the Ruck to Remember for the second year in a row this May, he said, a 60-mile hike in West Virginia to honor fallen soldiers.