Buffalo Grove police mourn an original

Back in 1968, Ronald L. Gozdecki was only the fourth full-time police officer sworn in at the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

But colleagues say his legacy goes beyond his years of service.

"He was the cornerstone of the whole modern era of our police agency," says Commander Steve Husak.

When Mr. Gozdecki retired in 1998, he capped a 30-year full-time career, during which he rose through the ranks to become the department's first commissioned lieutenant and, ultimately, its deputy chief for nearly 20 years, helping to manage its growth to include 71 sworn officers.

"He loved the community aspect of it," says his wife, Lynn, "and working with people. He got so much satisfaction from helping people, and just being there for them."

Now, his colleagues are mourning his passing. Mr. Gozdecki died on Christmas Day. The 42-year Buffalo Grove resident was 69.

Mr. Gozdecki's tenure with the department started in 1966, when he began as a part-time officer.

Family members say Mr. Gozdecki worked in the insurance industry before his police work, and perhaps that explained his vision for advancing the department into a nationally accredited department, with formalized policies and procedures.

"He was on the cutting edge as far as instituting new police programs," Husak says. "He had a vision for the department, and held us each up to high standards."

Mr. Gozdecki had a direct impact on the department's front-line officers, including its patrol officers and investigators, with his promotion to lieutenant in 1973, assigned to command field operations.

Beyond overseeing the department's largest unit, Mr. Gozdecki also instituted some innovative local programs, including starting one of the first police liaison agencies to work with schools, after establishing an officer at Cooper Junior High School in Buffalo Grove for a brief stint.

"It didn't last long, but it was the first of what now is pretty common to have a police liaison officer at the schools," Husak says.

Mr. Gozdecki also worked with the Buffalo Grove Park District to launch the village's Safety Town, and in 1974, he worked with the Hoffman Estates Police Department to start the unique "Swap-a-Cop," during which the forces exchanged an officer for a month, to see how the other worked.

Mr. Gozdecki also holds the distinction of coordinating the village's only presidential visit. In 1976, he worked with the Secret Service and oversaw the police department's role in President Gerald Ford's appearance and speech at Buffalo Grove High School.

One of Mr. Gozdecki's lasting contributions was his role in earning the department its accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, or CALEA. Mr. Gozdecki was named the accreditation manager in 1985, one year after the national credentialing program formed.

When Buffalo Grove received its accreditation, it was only the fifth department in the state and 48th in the country to earn the distinction, and led to the department's internal review and assessment every three years.

Besides his wife, Mr. Gozdecki is survived by his daughters, Jennifer (Scott) Dahl of Inverness and Ashley Gozdecki of Palatine, and two grandchildren.

Visitation for Mr. Gozdecki will take place from 3 to 9 p.m. today, before a noon funeral service Saturday, both at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.