James Zahm’s police career began as a teenager nearly 50 years ago in Lancaster city.

It concluded Tuesday when Zahm retired as a distinguished member of the Lancaster County Detectives division.

Zahm looks forward to more time with his wife, Marvel, and their 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild – from four children who all work in public service. That brought a smile to Zahm, a composed and reserved commander of Lancaster County’s Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).

One of Zahm’s final work tasks was to hand off the symbolic SERT commander flag to Detective John Wettlaufer (in photo).

The creation and development of the countywide SERT unit was the crowning achievement of Zahm’s career, he said during his final week on the job.

Zahm joined Lancaster city police’s original SWAT unit in 1984. Eighteen years later, the countywide SERT unit launched.

Today, Zahm says, it is one of the finest SERT units in the state, and in fine hands under Detective Wettlaufer’s leadership and District Attorney Heather Adams’ oversight.

“The team credo is to save lives,” Zahm said. “To save lives in really bad situations.”

As for how his police career path started, it almost never was.

Upon graduating from McCaskey High School in 1972, Zahm was set on joining the Navy when his mother found an opening as a cadet for the Lancaster city police.

Zahm was 18 when he got the job and went on his first patrol shifts. He was a cadet with Michael Landis, who would later become Chief of Lancaster city police and Chief Lancaster County Detective.

The late Elwood Hocker was Zahm’s first mentor while a cadet.

Officially sworn in as a city police officer on Oct. 17, 1975, Zahm served as a patrolman while promoting to sergeant and lieutenant in 1991 and 1995, respectively.

“I have more good thoughts than bad on my dealings with the public,” Zahm said.

Zahm became commander of the city SWAT unit in 1996. Three years later, the creation of a countywide SERT unit became Zahm’s focus and passion.

Upon 9/11 in 2001, the need for a specially trained team to handle active shooter/barricaded gunman situations was apparent, so county officials approved the unit’s formation.

With support from former District Attorneys (now judges) Donald Totaro and Craig Stedman, the countywide SERT unit ran its first calls in 2002.

Zahm retired from the city police force in January 2009 and became a County Detective later that month, his primary duties as SERT commander.

“It was a lot of work to get the team where it is today,” Zahm said.

District Attorney Heather Adams commended Zahm on his “excellence in leadership.”

“I wish to thank Detective Sergeant Zahm for his tireless service and dedication to law enforcement,” DA Adams said.

One of Zahm’s biggest non-SERT assignments was a two-year investigation of William H. Brown Jr., an investment scammer who targeted the Amish. Brown pleaded guilty in 2018.

“I enjoyed helping victims of crimes,” Zahm said, “and had a certain pleasure with bringing criminals to justice.”

But now, he said, is the time to devote all his time to family and personal aspirations.

The 66-year-old Beaver County native and his wife live in Strasburg Township – a few miles south from where it all started six decades ago.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright