Police Department Says Goodbye to Sergeant

After 34 years, the Twinburg Police Department's Sgt. James Tobak is retired.

Tobak began working in Twinsburg on Sept. 1, 1978 and officially retired Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, according to a press release from the police department.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to Jim and his wife, Debra Sue, on the occasion of his retirement and we wish him well as he enters a new phase of his life,” Chief Christopher Noga said.

Tobak began his career as a part-time officer for the Village of Munroe Falls before he was hired as a full-time police officer for Twinsburg in 1978.

He is one of only two officers remaining on the department who worked out of the old police station located inthe basement of 9825 Ravenna Rd., which is the Twins Days Festival offices today.

Tobak was promoted to sergeant in 2001 and he has supervised a day shift patrol team since 2003. 

Tobak is also a recipient of the Police Department Municipal Award for Meritorious Service.

In October 1995 Tobak and his sergeant were dispatched to the State Route 82 bridge over I-480. The officers were responding to a call about a “tense-looking” female standing on the bridge and looking over the side.

As the officers got closer, the woman started to jump.

The sergeant grabbed the woman’s arm and Tobak held her around her waist. The three went slightly over the edge and after a brief struggle, the officers and the woman fell back onto the bridge.

After the incident the woman came to the police department and thanked the officers for saving her life.

Tobak is a long time Twinsburg resident.