Justin Schwartz was born and raised in Malad, and that’s where he has spent his law enforcement career—from his first position as a dispatcher in 1992 up to his retirement on Wednesday.  A party was held over the weekend to celebrate the occasion, and we were lucky enough to speak with him as he enters his last few days as a boy in blue.  

Like many, Schwartz realized that he wanted to be work law enforcement when he was very young.  “My uncle worked for the Idaho State Police, and I saw what he did and from then on knew that’s what I wanted to do,” Schwartz said.

He started as a Dispatcher at the age of nineteen, and became fulltime with it before too long.  Sometime, of course, the phone would be extremely active, but often it wasn’t.  “I read a lot of books,” Schwartz says.

In 1996, he became a fulltime jailer at the Oneida County jail, which was at that time a cinderblock building behind the courthouse that, along with space in the courthouse basement, could house six inmates. “Oh, it was about the best jail there was,” Schwartz laughs.  The facility was removed many years ago, but there is no shortage of stories about it.

Following those years, Schwartz took on a patrol position in 2002, which he enjoyed most.  “It gets you out and interacting with people,” he said.  “I have really enjoyed working in my hometown—getting to help people I know is a great thing.”

One of the things about working as an officer in a small town is exactly that—everyone knows you.  “People know you and trust you.  They know you’re there to help, and that’s a good thing,” he says.  “But it can also be tough to deal with people you like—friends even—when they screw up.  But that happens sometimes and you have to do it,” he says.

Justin and Nikki Schwartz and family at Saturday’s retirement party

 When asked about the things that have changed in town since he first started, Schwartz brings up the various aspects of technology that have changed.  “We used to do everything on paper—now we use computers for everything,” he notes.  But as he explains it, that isn’t really the most significant thing that has changed.  “It was easier back then,” he says, “because there was more respect for law enforcement.”  He notes that the two concerns are visible in the presence of body-cameras and vehicle cameras, which have nationally become a fixture because the technology is so widely available, and because of the decreased level of instinctive trust in law enforcement over the last several decades.

Despite the changes in technology and attitude, Schwartz doesn’t think that the level or type of crime in Malad is all that different.  “We still have the same type of crime as we always have.  But I don’t think everyone really knows what we deal with, what we see.  A lot of people think that because Malad’s a small town we don’t have much to worry about.  But we see the same things that they see everywhere.”  

While major violent incidents are still a rarity in Malad, the routine domestic abuse calls, drunk driving offenses, child endangerment issues, and other things not commonly discussed in the open are as present in the community as they are anywhere.  Additionally, the proximity of I-15 adds another layer to the patrolling load.  “People come into this community from outside a lot, and we don’t always know what for.  So we have to keep our heads on a swivel.  Most of the calls are nothing, but not all of them,” he says.

The trauma experienced on the job by officers can definitely take a toll, Schwartz believes, and encourages anyone who needs counseling as a result of on the job experience to seek out the services that are offered.  “If you don’t, it will catch up with you in the end,” he says.

For his part, Schwartz looks back at his law enforcement career in Malad happily.  He points to years of coordinating Shop with a Cop for Malad kids as a highlight.  “I miss that,” he says.  “That gave the kids a different perspective on the police that they don’t always get.”  

And that’s part of the message he would leave to the community, especially kids.  “Support us in what we do, and don’t be afraid to talk to us.  We’re here to help.  Don’t be afraid to call—that’s what we’re here for,” he says.

While Schwartz is retiring from the force, he has other duties as Fire Chief to keep him busy, as well as planning what to do next.  “It’s still early,” he laughs.  Justin and Nikki Schwartz have two children, and two grandchildren to keep them busy as well.