From Michigan woods to Westchester streets, Jennifer Zychowski has built a life of service, science and justice
When Westchester resident Jennifer Zychowski steps onto a crime scene, she brings with her not only decades of technical expertise, but also the curiosity of a girl who once spent her childhood exploring the woods, devouring mystery novels, and watching “Law & Order” with her family.
Today, Jennifer is the Forensic Supervisor for the Santa Monica Police Department, but her path to forensic science began far from Southern California. She spent her early years in Michigan before her family moved to 82 acres of Tennessee forest when she was 10. She and her twin sister, Angela, spent their days riding bikes, building forts, and staying outside until the sun disappeared behind the trees. It was the quintessential 80s and early 90s childhood of camping trips, fishing with extended family, and a steady rotation of Stephen King and James Patterson mysteries.
“I read any kind of mystery book I could get my hands on,” she says.
Television only fueled her fascination.
“I grew up watching “Law & Order,” “Dateline,” “Unsolved Mysteries,” “Court TV,” “America’s Most Wanted,’” she recalls.
She admired Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson, and when the O.J. Simpson trial gripped the nation, it gripped young Jennifer, too. She was captivated by the evidence, the science, and the way the facts emerged piece by piece in the courtroom.
By the time she was 12 or 13, she knew she wanted a career in forensics.
A Path Built on Determination and a Little Serendipity
Jennifer and Angela watched their parents navigate financial challenges, and their mother and father often encouraged them to pursue stable government careers. Both daughters listened: Angela is now an FBI Special Agent in Florida, while Jennifer pursued the scientific side of criminal justice.
“Initially, my sister and I were both interested in joining the FBI,” she says.
Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where an anthropology class sparked her love for detailed analysis.
“I liked looking at little details to figure out what bone I was looking at,” she remembers.
That curiosity led her to San Diego to pursue forensic science. A tour of the San Diego Crime Lab shifted her plans: instead of entering a master’s program, she enrolled in Grossmont Community College’s respected Forensic Technology program.
“That decision changed everything,” Jennifer says.
An internship at the same lab opened the door to job applications, and in 2005 she joined the Santa Monica Police Department as a Forensic Specialist. She has been there ever since, promoted to Lead Forensic Specialist in 2015 and to Forensic Supervisor in 2016.
Along the way, she earned a Master of Public Administration from Cal State Dominguez Hills, while working full-time and pregnant with her third daughter.
“I’m very proud of that degree,” she says. “Our girls were able to see me receive my diploma. I hope it inspires them to continue their education.”
Rounding out her resume, Jennifer is also a Certified Crime Scene Investigator through the International Association for Identification.
Inside the Work of a Forensic Supervisor
Today, Jennifer oversees a team of Forensic Specialists who respond to everything from burglaries and robberies to assaults, homicides, and suicides. They photograph scenes, collect DNA, process evidence for latent prints, analyze fingerprints, and testify in court. As supervisor, she serves as the bridge between her team and detectives or department leadership, often responding to major incidents herself.
She enjoys the work and the people. She is on call every day she’s not in the office.
“I love working for the Santa Monica Police Department and being part of a team that works so well together,” says Jennifer. “What drives me is helping the community, making it safer, helping to solve crimes. I’m a rule follower, and I love putting the pieces of a puzzle together.”
One of her most memorable cases came early in her career: an attempted homicide in 2008 where the victim survived after fighting back. The suspect cut himself during the attack, leaving his DNA behind. Jennifer collected more than 100 pieces of evidence, including blood swabs. Detectives arrested the suspect based on the evidence she gathered. He was convicted of the attempted homicide and two additional homicides in 2019, more than a decade later, and is also charged with a 1993 homicide.
She beams when talking about her team.
“Our Forensic Section is the best around,” she says. “They have such passion for doing the job well and improving the field. It makes my job a lot easier.”
A Westchester Life Rooted in Belonging
Jennifer and her husband, Jeff, moved to Westchester in December 2010, shortly after their oldest daughter, Whitney, turned 1. Today, Whitney is 16 and driving, while Audrey (14) and Everly (9) keep the family’s schedule lively.
The family has embraced Westchester wholeheartedly. Living near the Triangle, they often walk to the Farmers’ Market, Westchester Bakery, or The Book Jewel, where Audrey never skips a stop for flan before browsing the shelves of the bookstore.
“We love to visit Paiges the cat at The Book Jewel,” Jennifer says with a smile.
Two of the girls attend Visitation School.
“Visitation is our parish, and we love the community the church and school have provided us,” says Jennifer. “The friends we’ve made here are truly like family. Westchester has a small-town feel in a larger community, and we really appreciate that.”
Crafts, Travel, and a Hint of Mystery
Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys crocheting, learning embroidery, reading, and traveling with her family. Her daughters recently received dual citizenship with Luxembourg, opening the door to future international adventures.
At home, life is joyful chaos: three daughters, a cat named Cinnamon, a dog named Colonel Mustard, and a family that loves board games, puzzles, movies, and travel. Jennifer’s favorite game, fittingly, is Clue.
She and Jeff, who works at LMU, have been married for 17 years. They first met in San Diego through mutual friends. Eventually, they both moved to Los Angeles.
“A big group of us were always hanging out at the beach together, someone’s house or a local bar. I actually thought he would be perfect for my friend Jenny,” Jennifer laughs. “Thankfully, she wasn’t interested.”
Her grandmother eventually pointed out how often she talked about “this Jeff guy,” suggesting she had feelings for him. One day, everything clicked, and things changed between them.
A life of Purpose
From the Tennessee woods to the crime scenes of Santa Monica and childhood mysteries to real-life investigations, Jennifer Zychowski has built a life grounded in service, curiosity, and justice.
And here in Westchester, between bakery visits, strolls to the bookstore, and evenings with her family, she’s found the place where all the pieces of her life’s puzzle come together.
Story by Sylvia Wilson. Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner.