For just over half his life, Lt. Lucas Wilcoxson has proudly donned a uniform as a member of the Sedona Police Department. While there are aspects of the job he will miss, he’s excited to start the next chapter of his life in what he calls “dad clothes.”
Wilcoxson, who rose to the rank of lieutenant in the department, is retiring after 24 years of service to the community in which he grew up.
The public is invited to his official walk-out ceremony at Sedona City Hall on Thursday, Aug. 26, at 4 p.m.
“Lt. Wilcoxson is an important part of our Sedona Police history and we’re thankful for his service and positive impact that he’s contributed along the way,” SPD Chief Charles Husted said. “We wish Lt. Wilcoxson all the best in his retirement and thank him for giving so much of his life to our police department and community. Lt. Wilcoxson’s work has helped put our organization in a good place, and we are very excited for the future.”
City Manager Karen Osburn agreed.
“Having been with the city since 1997 and having risen through the ranks as he has, not having Lt. Wilcoxson’s experience and institutional knowledge will be a big loss for the city as will his wit and calm demeanor,” she said. “He will be missed but the city is appreciative for all his years of service and I wish him the best in his much deserved retirement.”
After serving two years in the Navy, and trying to decide what path he wanted to take at the age of 22, Wilcoxson went on a police ride-along in Scottsdale and that was all it took.
“I knew at that moment that’s what I wanted to do,” the 46-year-old said. “I applied with the Mesa PD, since I was living down there, but I was not selected. But I grew up here in Sedona, heard there was an opening, so I applied. I didn’t think I had a chance, so when I was hired, I was floored. The city had never hired a young person before. At the time I was the youngest employee ever hired by the city, and not just within the PD, any department.”
He acknowledged that it’s a rarity when an officer spends his or her entire career with one department. He said he was tempted to test the waters in the Phoenix area about a decade into his career but in hindsight is glad he didn’t.
“This is a great place to raise a family,” said Wilcoxson, who along with his wife, Shelly, have two children, Colin, 21, and Rachel, 17. “I would not have wanted to do that in the Valley.
“Over my career I’ve realized how special it’s been serving the community I grew up in. In the beginning it never clicked for me but as time went on, it hit home. I guess it was hometown pride and I looked at things differently because I had a vested interest in this community compared to some who may come here and simply see it as a job.”
As he moved up through the ranks and served in several capacities within the department — primarily investigations — he said he found himself being a mentor to many of the younger officers. He tells them to treat every call as if that’s a family member on the other line. And the same goes when filling out an incident report regardless of the call.
When he sees reports that aren’t quite as thorough as they should be, he asks them, “Would your family be proud of you if you came to them with this report? It gets them to think a little bit different. I tell them that this might be their 15th criminal damage case they’re handling but this might also be that person’s first time interacting with law enforcement.”
When asked if there was a case or incident that stood out over the past quarter century, it took no time at all for something to come to mind. For many years he had a shadow box hanging in his office and in it was a heart-shaped rock. Many years ago he was working a sexual assault case that involved a minor. After a difficult day before a grand jury — in which for a moment he said he lost hope in society — it left him feeling depressed. While walking to his patrol car, some of that lost hope was restored.
“This random lady’s walking through the Prescott Courthouse area — doesn’t know me from Adam, I’m not in uniform — comes up and says, ‘I’m giving you this, for some odd reason, because I feel like you have a very good heart and society is not bad’ and walked away. I’ve kept that my entire career.”
Being that life as a police officer is very structured, Wilcoxson said his immediate plan is to do something that’s the exact opposite as he maps out the next chapter of his life. The Monday after his official retirement, he and his daughter are taking a two-week road trip.
“Zero plans,” he said with a wide grin. “We don’t know if we’re staying in hotels — we’re bringing our sleeping bags. We’re heading north and going wherever we want from there. It’s my separation from my entire life being controlled to zero control. She will pick, left or right, and that’s where we’re going to go.
“After we get back I have my honey-do list and in January I’ll start looking for a new job. I have a lot of opportunities but I’m not sure what I want to do. But I do know I want to take a little time to relax and then worry about the future.”
