SWAMPSCOTT — Retiring Swampscott Police Capt. John Alex went out with a bang on Wednesday.
The Swampscott Police Department surprised Alex, a 41-year veteran officer, with a motorized tribute to mark his last day with the department.
Alex turns 65 on Thursday, which is the town’s retirement age for police officers and firefighters.
The tribute started at the rear of Blocksidge Field, at 601 Humphrey St., and continued a short distance to the driveway of the Swampscott Police Department, at 531 Humphrey St., where an unsuspecting Alex was working.
“I thought it was wonderful,” said Alex.
Later on in the day, Alex’s nephew delivered his final radio call over the police scanner.
“Capt. Alex wore many hats within the department during his career, but he took the most pride in his ‘cover’ (term for police hat) that he wore proudly every year as he led the Holiday Parade through town,” Swampscott Police said in a statement. “The feeling within the department with Captain Alex’s retirement can be compared to a family member leaving the nest for the first time, sad but proud.”
Alex started as a patrol officer with the department in 1981, and was promoted first to lieutenant in 1981 and then captain in 1999. In addition to spending his entire career with the department, Alex is a lifelong resident of Swampscott, where he raised his two daughters and a son.
