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After 3 decades, Canfield officer retires
By Elise Franco
Canfield
Andy Bodzak’s legacy will echo in the halls of the Canfield Police Department long after he turns in his badge, colleagues said.
Bodzak, 61, will retire Tuesday from what he described as a job that was “as exciting today as it was 30 years ago.”
“I absolutely love my job and everything that goes with police work,” he said. “I never envisioned myself retiring. I always thought that I would always be here or die on the job, and I can’t get over how fast time has gone by.”
Bodzak, who has been with the department for 30 of his 31-year career, was named assistant chief in July 2009. He also was a detective sergeant, former patrolman for the department, spent one year as a Mahoning County deputy sheriff and worked on several task forces, including Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, Mahoning County Homicide Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration Pharmaceutical Division.
He’s also begun teaching criminal justice full time at the Penn State University Shenango campus and will teach part time at the DEA Academy in Quantico, Va.
Chuck Colucci, Canfield police chief, said it was Bodzak’s experience that made him such a critical member of the department.
“Any time you get an officer who’s assigned for a certain task force, you get that experience brought back to the department,” he said. “And not just anyone is selected to serve on these task forces. It takes a certain type of officer.”
Colucci said Bodzak’s professionalism as a police officer set the tone for the rest of the department.
“He’s a passionate investigator,” Colucci said. “His work wasn’t just eight hours behind the desk. He took those cases home.”
Detective Brian McGivern said having Bodzak as a partner for the past two years has been a blessing and a challenge.
“I really feel fortunate that I got to work under Andy,” he said. “He expected you to constantly raise the bar and keep moving forward. It was not easy at all, but it makes you a better person and a better investigator.”
McGivern echoed Colucci’s sentiments about Bodzak’s professional attitude.
“He made sure every investigative case that came out of this department was thorough and always complete,” McGivern said. “To have Andy stand next to you as a partner, you know you’re going to succeed.”
Bodzak, who remains modest about his co-workers’ praise, said he was simply doing his best.
“I’m certainly not the smartest cop, but if you work hard, it will pay off,” he said.
The Youngstown native said he’s learned as much from other officers as they’ve learned from him.
“The younger officers just amaze me because they have this passion that you don’t see in every profession,” he said.
During his tenure in Canfield, Bodzak worked under four police chiefs — Colucci, David Blystone, Terry Shidel and Bob Byers.
“Each has given me opportunities and guidance,” he said.