Crime & Safety

Parkville Precinct Captain Retires

Capt. Thomas J. Busch spent 37 years on the force.

Capt. Thomas J. Busch picked up the radio in his office late Monday afternoon and called out his last “10-42,” using the police code that signals the end of a shift.

Busch is one of the six Baltimore County Police Department command or administrative staff members to accept an early retirement offer, as reported by Patch's Bryan Sears.

In his 37 years on the police force, Busch says he has seen it all.

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He began his career as a recruit working in Dundalk, where he had graduated high school. He remembers clearly his first call as a rookie cop.

It was Jan. 10, 1975 and he was working a 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift when he responded to a call for a burglary on Eastfield Road in Dundalk.

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Someone had broken into a house and stolen savings bonds — "At that point I didn't know much of anything, it took me probably five years to get comfortable with police work," Busch said.  That was the first call of many during his 11 years at that precinct.

As a corporal, he worked in Essex and was on a daytime shift in 1986 when there was a major Amtrak accident.

"I was supervising the perimeter and I found a TV camera just standing there by itself, filming the scene of the accident. I don't know who was filming, what channel, but turned the camera away and it's a good thing I did," Busch said.

Moments after he made the decision to move the camera, Busch said a train car was lifted, revealing a young woman who had died.

Busch has worked as a traffic cop in Essex, was a sergeant in Parkville, served as a member of the Baltimore County SWAT team for five years, worked as a lieutenant in Essex and White Marsh, and eventually made captain in 2000. 

While Busch was captain, he worked in outreach, then as a school system liaison before he was given command of the Parkville precinct.

Through all of this, what did he learn?

"You've got to talk to people and listen," Busch said. "When you’re called to a crime, those people are at the bottom of the barrel, they really need the help you’re there to give."

After a career that began at 21, Busch, now 58, plans to spend time with his wife and high school sweetheart Barbara. He also intends to visit his children and grandchildren, and further his hobby as a photographer.

"I don't really have plans right now, for the next couple days I'll sit with Barbara and we'll figure it out," Busch said. "I'm planning to go to Arkansas and see the grandbabies — Easton and Emily — and spend some time with [my daughter]."

Once he's back, the Parkville resident won't be going anywhere.

"We're planning to stay right here," he said. "The only thing I want is a garage, so we'll either find a place with one in the area, or I'll build one myself.

"Parkville’s been wonderful, this has got to be the best precinct,” he continued. “It's really a nice place with hard-working, dedicated officers.”

The outgoing captain expressed fondness for the people he has served and worked with for the past two years.

"I enjoyed working with every one of them. They were just wonderful people to work with. Everybody treated me with respect and dignity, and I hope I did them too," Busch said.

With Busch's retirement, Lt. Paul Franzoni will serve as acting commander beginning Nov. 1, until a new captain is found.

"He's a really good, sharp guy. He grew up in the area — graduated from Calvert Hall, went to Towson University. He could be a captain tomorrow if he wanted to. The precinct is left in excellent hands," Busch said.


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