SWAMPSCOTT — Hugh “Jim” Schultz, a Swampscott Police Department detective and veterans agent for more than 20 years, has retired.
Colleagues say his departure represents a huge loss for the community.
The 61-year-old cop spent 22 years on the force, starting as a patrol officer. He was the veterans agent for 24 years. He spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving at the end of the Vietnam War.
Schultz lived in town for most of his life, but moved to Salem three years ago. He said he has mixed emotions about his retirement.
“Everybody, I think, for the most part looks forward to not having to get up for work,” he said. “But when you work with a great bunch of men and women, it’s hard to walk away.”
He’s not sure what’s next for him.
“I don’t really like sitting still, so I’ll be out doing something,” he said.
He’ll miss working with Sgt. Tim Cassidy. They’ve been partners on the force for more than a decade, working on many cases together. He said they’ve been through a lot of things together, but Cassidy was always there.
Cassidy said he’s been Schultz’s supervisor and friend for many years now, and his retirement is “a huge loss for me personally,” and his stepping down as a veterans agent represents a “huge loss for the town.”
The two worked on many cases together over the years, he said. But they never went into a situation the two didn’t know to get out of. He said they have arrested a lot of bad guys over the years.
“I don’t think he really wants to go, but it’s time,” Cassidy said. “He’s going to be missed incredibly. I trust him with my life every single day. He’s a real, real good guy. There’s not a lot of people in the world you can say you trust your life with and Jimmy is certainly one of them.”
Cassidy said Schultz was going to leave a while ago, but due to illnesses in the department, he stayed on for a couple more months. Due to budgetary constraints, Cassidy said Schultz was moved out of his detective role a couple of times, but he never complained about it and always did whatever was needed.
Cassidy said there’s a phrase the Marines say, “semper fidelis,” which means “always faithful,” something that he said is an accurate representation of Schultz.
Police Chief Ronald Madigan said he’s worked with Schultz during his tenure with the department, but he’s actually known him longer, as they went to high school together.
“He’s been a natural leader within the department,” he said. “All of the officers respect him and appreciate his advice and guidance. For us, it represents a loss. I’m sorry to see him retire. He’s not a role that’s going to easily be replaced.”
Madigan said Schultz’s role as a veterans agent has had an overlapping benefit, as he’s been a good ombudsman for the police department.
“As a police department, we seek to have inroads in the community,” he said. “It’s been a good fit having him serve as a veterans officer. He’s been out there to advocate and support a good portion of our population, serving our veterans. He’s been a good public face for the department.”
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald referred to Schultz as an extraordinary public servant.
“I think he’s frankly an American hero,” he said. “Jim served our country in Vietnam and came back and continued to serve in public life. He’s been an outstanding police officer and veterans agent. He tirelessly advocated on behalf of Swampscott’s veterans. He is a true reflection of the kind of pride we have in Swampscott and he will be sorely missed.”
Schultz said something that sticks out about his role is his department’s work with installing war monuments, including the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm and the Global War on Terrorism.
But what Schultz said he’s most proud of is that he’s been able to help others during his tenure.
“Both of those jobs were basically to help people, whether it’s helping a veteran in need or a widow in need on the veteran’s side or helping somebody that’s been robbed, abused or assaulted on the police side,” Schultz said. “You get a good feeling when you help somebody.”
