Unlike many of his colleagues in law enforcement, Chester County Chief County Detective James Vito had no precipitating event, family history, or trusted mentor that lured him into police work: It was just something he had wanted to do for a long time.
Decades later, the longest-serving member of the District Attorney’s Office is retiring, effective Dec. 31, said a press release from Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.
Vito began his career with the Chester County Detectives in 1979 when the murderous Johnston gang had just been rounded up after terrorizing southern Chester County. Popularized in the Hollywood film “At Close Range,” the gang continued to occupy investigators during a protracted prosecution.
More recently, detectives’ focus has been on sexting, a predominantly teenage trend involving the electronic exchange of sexually revealing images. The problem was publicized this past month after a probe in the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District, but the incidents mirrored behavior occurring throughout the county, Vito said.
Vito’s decision to retire comes after the recent election of his wife, Marian Thayer Vito, to the position of magisterial district judge in West Chester. “I feel good about the decision [to retire],” he said. “It feels like the right time.” He said he hopes to begin tackling 20 years’ worth of unfinished projects at home.
A graduate of West Chester University, Vito started his law enforcement career in 1976 with the West Goshen Police Department. He met his wife, with whom he has two sons, after he moved to the District Attorney’s Office as a county detective. She was working as an assistant district attorney.
In a recent interview, Vito said he attended college with the knowledge that he wanted to pursue police work. The criminal justice program had just been introduced at what was then West Chester college, and he ended up participating in one of its first internships, a stint that landed him in the office of the county detectives.
Hogan said Vito played a critical role in many law enforcement initiatives in Chester County, including the creation and development of the Computer Forensics Unit, the Crime Scene Forensics Unit, and the Child Abuse Unit. Vito was also one of the leaders in developing an active threat/mass casualty protocol for the entire county. He has overseen numerous high-profile murder cases, drug investigations, white-collar fraud matters, and political corruption issues.
Vito said some of the most memorable cases employed cooperative approaches. High-profile crime sprees, such as a spate of pipe bombs that put Phoenixville on edge in 2000 and the Coatesville arson scourge that terrified the city in 2008 and 2009, demonstrated the importance of teamwork, which he valued. “A lot of different agencies from the FBI to ATF collaborated with us,” he said, calling them gratifying experiences.
Vito served under District Attorneys William Lamb, James Freeman, James MacElree, Anthony Sarcione, Joseph Carroll, and Tom Hogan. He has held the position of chief county detective for the last eight years and is also is a retired veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves.
“Chester County law enforcement will miss his calm demeanor and work ethic,” said Hogan. “He has been an outstanding chief and a credit to Chester County.”
Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh agreed, calling Vito “a man of integrity who was passionate about his job.” She said he was the “go-to guy” for many when they needed information on security or other issues.
“He was the consummate professional, a logical thinker who was totally dedicated to his job – and to doing the right thing,” Welsh said. “I will miss him greatly.”
Vito said he saw the county grow from a sleepy rural region to a vibrant, economic hub. “I’m very fortunate,” Vito said. “I’ve had some terrific life experiences – good and bad – and worked with some great people. I wouldn’t trade any of it.”
After years of hands-on work, Vito said his transition to a supervisory position occurred seamlessly but brought new responsibilities. He said he felt strongly that his job required him to prepare for any – and all – eventualities.
He said the average person probably doesn’t give a lot of thought to daily safety and security, but Vito considered it a key component of his job.
“It’s not a lack of self-confidence,” he said. “It’s a desire to be ready for any kind of emergency. I think worrying is a big part of your responsibility in this job. You need to worry to keep people safe – and to keep them from worrying.”
For Vito, one of the benefits of retirement may be a reduction in those fears.
“I don’t think I’m going to wake up at 3 a.m. and worry about what color I’m going to paint the living room or what I’m going to use for bait when I go fishing,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
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