SWAMPSCOTT — Swampscott Police Veteran and Special Police Officer Todd Pierce is ready to turn the page on his long commitment of service to the town.
Pierce served as a full-time officer from 2003 until 2022, at which point he became a reserve officer. Prior to joining the town’s police department, he began his career with the Department of Mental Health Police from 1995 to 1997, then went on to serve as a Salem State University Police Officer from 1997 to 2003.
“Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a police officer, even though nobody in my family ever was,” Pierce explained. He said growing up in Danvers, he had a neighbor who was a police officer who left a lasting impression on him.
“For whatever reason, I was just drawn to it,” he said.
He talked about how policing has evolved since he first joined the department, changes which Pierce views as a positive step forward.
“It’s really crazy, it has changed for the better in a lot of ways and most ways, actually. Especially here in Massachusetts, the training has always been great, and the use of modern technology… When I started, we didn’t have computers or anything like that — I remember when it was a big deal when we first got cameras in the cars — and now guys are wearing body-cams,” he said.
Accountability and the integration of modern technology are some of the biggest and most impactful changes, according to Pierce.
“As a police officer, it was quite rewarding policing in the town I’ve lived in for a long time, and that I was lucky enough to raise my kids in,” he said. “Swampscott’s a wonderful community, and it’s a special place… I grew up in Danvers, but I consider myself a Swampscott-ite.”
He explained the challenges he would sometimes encounter throughout his career. “Sometimes, unfortunately, you have to deal with families that I knew personally — and that was really challenging, but it was also a benefit because I felt really supported by the town,” he said.
Staying grounded during the tougher moments of his career, Pierce found that having his family in the back of his mind was something that put him at ease and reinforced his mission.
“My parents were always in the back of my mind,” he said. “I was lucky enough to be raised by two wonderful parents… I tried to treat everybody how I would like my mother to be treated.”
Looking ahead to retirement, Pierce has plans to move to Florida in May, where he will join the management team of security at the Department of Lake Highland Preparatory School.
Pierce expressed his gratitude toward the department, Police Chief Ruben Quesada, the officers that he served with, and those that served before him.
“The Swampscott Police Department is a special place — I want to mention the late John Hoffman, who was a long-time coach and police officer in town, as well as the late Tom Lucas, who passed away last year,” he said. “There are so many others in the department that I’m thankful for serving with, and they all should be celebrated, because what they’ve done is far more than what I’ve ever accomplished.”
