Security officer found dead on Virginia Wesleyan campus

Police patrol Virginia Wesleyan College on Thursday morning. The body of security officer Walter Zakrzewski was discovered late Wednesday near the student dining hall. In the background is student housing. (Photo by Vicki Cronis / The Virginian-Pilot)

By Duane Bourne
The Virginian-Pilot

VIRGINIA BEACH - Walter Zakrzewski didn't want to leave Chicago. His roots, his family were there.

But his wife, Mary Ann, wanted to be close to her family in Hampton Roads. So this year, Zakrzewski left his job at the steel mill and headed east to find another job and another home.

He found work as a campus security officer at Virginia Wesleyan College and bought a house in the Ocean View section of Norfolk. He started over.

But his new life - and new career - ended Wednesday night when, police say, Zakrzewski, 57, was killed while on duty at the college. His body was found about 11:30 p.m. outside the student dining hall.

"Things were just starting to settle down and this happened," his sister-in-law Lori Swan said. "This was supposed to be a new beginning, not the end."

Police are not saying how Zakrzewski died, but they are investigating his death as a homicide. They didn't identify any suspects.

After news of the death spread, security officers ramped up evening patrols. City police also increased their presence around campus.

The private college of 1,400 students straddles the border of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, near Northampton Boulevard.

T he college has only one road onto campus. The 20-member security department patrols by foot, bicycle and vehicles. All are armed with mace and a telescoping baton, but no guns.

The campus is relatively safe. According to electronic records, police have responded to at least six calls on the campus this year, including drugs and weapon possession, theft and aggravated assault.

This was the first homicide in the school's 40-year history.

"We think of this place as Camelot," College President Billy Greer said. "It's just a wonderful place. It still is."

Only a few students remained inside the buildings on Wednesday night. Classes had ended hours earlier, and most of the students had gone home for a two-day fall break.

Zakrzewski was conducting his building checks, turning off lights, when he lost communication with the security office. Other officers wondered whether his radio had malfunctioned.

As another group of four or five officers were about to start their 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, they realized that Zakrzewski had not checked in. His supervisor, Sgt. Victor Dorsey, began looking for him.

Dorsey discovered Zakrzewski's body outside the Boyd Dining Hall. He called police about 11:30 p.m.

Campus Security Director Leo Therrien said Dorsey "could not talk. It was a gruesome discovery."

Although Zakrzewski had worked at the college since July, he was known as "Officer Wally. "

Zakrzewski was described as an amiable man with a can-do attitude. His personality and his willingness to accept any duty sealed the job for him, Therrien said.

His daughter, Rebecca Klotz, said the only thing that mattered to Zakrzewski was his family's happiness.

That's why he sat in the bleachers for all of his son's Little League games and his daughter's softball games. It's why he moved away from his son and grandson in Chicago, so his wife could be closer to hers.

"He would rather see a smile on our faces than his," Klotz said.

She recalled how, on her 13th birthday, her father bought her her first earrings and a rose. Inside the birthday card, he scribbled a note.

"He needed to be the first man in my life to give me a rose," she said.

Police asked anyone with information to call the Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (562-5887).

• Reach Duane Bourne at (757) 222-5150 or at duane.bourne@pilotonline.com.