His life of service West Milford For 41 years, police officer James Dykstra was on a mission - keeping the peace and protecting the people of West Milford, a job he took very much to heart. In June 2005, after rising through the ranks and serving as chief of police for five years, he reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 and bid farewell to the job he loved. On his last day on the job Dykstra went to work at 8 a.m., cleaned out his desk and spent the remainder of the day on patrol with his men. He left at midnight, his final hour on the police force. “I thoroughly enjoyed serving the township of West Milford. I always felt that I worked for the citizens of the community and if I helped somebody, that made me feel good,” Dykstra said. Born in Wayne, Dykstra has lived in West Milford since 1962. He and Lonnie, his wife of 44 years, have two married daughters and two grandchildren with a third on the way. After he graduated from high school Dykstra joined the Navy. He was stationed aboard a submarine warfare destroyer during the Cold War and took part in the Bay of Pigs Invasion. After his military tour Dykstra worked as a construction laborer in West Milford. He longed for a career in community service so he took a pay cut and joined the West Milford Police Department. “I wanted to count for something,” he said. It was a simpler time, Dykstra said. He was given a gun, taken for target practice and was out on patrol for months before attending the police academy. Although he has many fond memories, he is most proud of his efforts to support the youth of the community. “I did my best to have resource officers in the schools, I vigorously supported PAL and the DARE program. Not so much policing, but gaining the confidence of the students and giving guidance,” Dykstra said. He had more than his share of sadness while on the force, having investigated 50 fatal accidents over the years. “I wore every one of them on my sleeve. They were in my heart and that never goes away,” he said. He also spoke of receiving a State of New Jersey Valor Award for the rescue of two ice fishermen from the Bearfort Waters on Clinton Road. Running out on the ice, Dykstra jumped in the frigid water and held the two men up for half an hour until a rescue boat could make its way to the scene. In the boat, assisting with the rescue, was current police Chief Paul Costello. Both fishermen eventually recovered and while Dykstra experienced hypothermia from the rescue, it was a satisfying moment in his career. “I always swore to myself that I would do what I had to do,” he said. So what does a man like Dykstra do after mandatory retirement? Well, for this man it was opening his own business, West Milford Financial Planning, located in Hewitt Plaza. Now his mission is the financial well-being of his clients. A certified financial planner, Dykstra has 42 years experience in the business, having worked part time in the field while on the force. He is busier than ever in this economy as people who previously managed their own finances realize the need for professional guidance. Offering no-obligation financial reviews, Dykstra assists his clients by setting financial goals and mapping out a more secure future. Careful planning for a college fund, 401 roll-overs, setting up an IRA or a nest egg for retirement, checking life insurance, protecting assets or looking at long-term care - basically putting together a coordinated plan for the client’s financial benefit - this is Dykstra’s current forte. But Dykstra is not one to just sit behind a desk. When not working you may find him running a five mile loop around the trails of Wawayanda. He enters local runs and takes part in larger races, such as the New York City Marathon and the Disney World Marathon he completed in January. “Knowing you are going in a run you have to train. It helps give you the motivation,” he said. He’s also an avid fisherman. He enjoys taking his boat out of Point Pleasant and spending time bouncing on the waves, leaving all problems at the shore line, he said. While not into cooking, he did create an easy recipe of his own by “fiddling around” with some fish he caught. At age 69, still running a business, still running in marathons, he really shouldn’t have to cook. Jim’s Quick Fish Fillets Mild fish fillets Green peppers, sliced Onions, sliced Fresh tomatoes sliced (or canned) Place fish on platter Put peppers in deep dish, cover with water, microwave until half cooked Add onion slices, finish cooking and drain Microwave fish for 5-6 minutes Cover with vegetables Drain platter and serve