Chico Police Officer Todd Lefkowitz – A Model of Treating Others With Respect

Living out a lifelong dream, Sergeant Todd Lefkowitz has been a motorcycle officer for 9 of his 25 years at the Chico Police Department. “From a young age, I’ve always wanted to be a motorcycle officer,” Todd recalls.

As the supervisor for his favorite unit—Traffic Division—Todd now treasures sparking the same excitement in new generations. “I love seeing the kids’ reactions when I ask if they want to sit on the motorcycle,” he says. As he lets them pose for photos and operate the bike’s emergency lights and loud speaker, Todd impresses upon kids the importance of being responsible, making good decisions, and treating others with respect. In an increasingly divided world, such advice, especially coming from law enforcement, offers a gleam of hope.

Investing in the next generation by mentoring students

Todd’s soft spot for kids extends to the college students who intern at the police department. Some interns show a particularly strong desire to enter law enforcement, and Todd intentionally takes time to show them the ground-level view of police work. He enjoys taking interns on ride-a-longs (pre-approved observations of an officer on duty), helping them prepare for law enforcement interviews, and giving experience-rich tips.

On top of his full-time police work, Todd also invests in the next generation by teaching at the police academy. His specialties include mental and psychological preparation, helping new police officers respond safely and responsibly to crimes in progress. “There’s something special about mentoring students who want to be in a career where they can make a difference in people’s lives,” he says.

Terry Tupper, one of Todd’s supervisors, calls Todd an expert in officer safety and says he has never doubted Todd’s decision-making.  “Todd is very deliberate,” Terry says, “which is so important in this job because you have to think through all of your decisions in every detail.” Refraining from over-confidence contributes to Todd’s ability to analyze situations and respond wisely. “Many people in this world and in this profession think humility is a weakness,” Terry says, “but I see it as a huge strength. Todd is one of the humblest people I know.”

“Helping is the key to making a difference”

Humility also enables Todd to treat the community with respect and dignity. No one wants to be pulled over or to get into a crash, and even in these unpleasant circumstances, Todd creates positive, professional police interactions. “I have found allowing people to talk makes a big difference,” Todd says. “I can’t tell you how many people have thanked me for listening to them. Sometimes it’s just a couple of minutes at a traffic stop or a crash. Sometimes it’s for longer than expected. Most people don’t get the chance to be heard.”

In addition to listening to people, Todd says “helping is the key to making a difference in your community. When you can help someone in any regard, that’s what’s rewarding. That’s what really gets people to turn and give back to others.”

Over the years, Todd has volunteered as a pianist for youth and adult church services. Greg Jones, Todd’s close friend since eighth grade, calls Todd “a man of faith” who is invested in his wife, teenage twins and adult stepchildren. When not working or volunteering, Todd devotes his time to his family—motorcycling with his son, watching movies with his daughter, enjoying coffee with his wife, or simply eating together. “First comes God,” says Greg, “then his family. Todd prioritizes what’s really important.”

“You never know what the day holds”

One summer night shift stands out among Todd’s 25-year police career.  “We got a call of a burglary in progress at a great local restaurant,” he recalls. Acting quickly, Todd helped form a police perimeter around the building. Within minutes, the would-be burglar crawled out a window and into Todd’s waiting handcuffs. Two hours after this satisfying justice, however, Todd found himself performing CPR on an infant for more than 30 minutes, continuing chest compressions even as the ambulance rushed them to the hospital. Despite all their efforts, the child died.

“That night stands out to me because in one shift I got the highest of highs and the lowest of lows,” Todd says. “You never know what the day holds, but you know you will have an impact on someone’s life at some point during the day.” Entering each day with this perspective, Todd models how to make a difference in the North State, even for those of us who don’t get to ride a motorcycle for work.