Longtime Buffalo Grove police Deputy Chief Michael Szos announced his immediate retirement — with few details for the departure publicly provided — bringing to a close a law enforcement career spanning more than three decades.
Szos rose through the ranks while serving 34 years with the Buffalo Grove Police Department. He exited as of Jan. 31, with village officials stating his retirement had been in the works for about six months before he left.
“It’s been an honor to serve the residents of Buffalo Grove for the past 34 years,” Szos said in a village news release announcing his retirement. “The relationships and experiences I’ve had throughout my career are invaluable.”
Szos began his law enforcement career with Buffalo Grove in 1988 as a desk officer, then community service officer, before being sworn in as a police officer in 1994. Six years later, he was sworn in as corporal, then sergeant three years after than. He rose to commander in 2011 before becoming deputy chief in 2014 where he has served until retirement, according to the release.
The release states that during his career with the police department, he also served as a field training officer, firearms instructor, special operations investigator, an accreditation manager and public information officer.
“Deputy Chief Szos is a respected and accomplished leader both in the organization and Buffalo Grove community,” Chief Brian Budds said in the release. “He has been instrumental in making the Buffalo Grove Police Department what it is today,”
Budds said, “and I’m grateful for his dedicated service all these years.”
Budds was sworn in as the new police chief Nov. 7.
Szos earned numerous awards throughout his career including multiple Illinois Department of Transportation awards for driving under the influence enforcement, AMVETS Scott Fitzgerald Special Commendation Award for Exceptional Service, Cook County Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Award of Merit for Outstanding Services and Professionalism, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s Leadership Award and an outstanding achievement award, according to the release.
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He earned a master’s degree in public administration from DePaul University and is a graduate of the 252nd session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He attended Northwestern’s School of Police Staff and Command and the Executive Management Program, and has numerous other achievements and distinctions.