NYPD Detective Steven Litwin has gone to Texas, Austria and everywhere in between to get his man — and he’s relished every second.
The Brooklyn native followed in his father’s footsteps when he joined the force in 1981, including stints in the borough’s robbery squad, Special Victims Division and finally, the Cold Case Squad.
But for Litwin, his 40-year career as one of New York’s Finest — which will end when he officially retires Wednesday — “went quick.”
“I loved all of my assignments and I had great experiences at every stop,” Litwin told The Post. “I enjoyed every minute of being a cop.”
He added, “I wanted to be a detective, never a boss. I just wanted to investigate and solve crimes.”
And he did.
In 1996, Litwin flew all the way to Austria for the arrest of Jaromir Lebeda, a Czech national sought in a Big Apple homicide.
Litwin’s cold cases also took him to San Antonio, Texas, for the 2005 slaying of 85-year-old World War II veteran Charles Boyd.
Boyd’s nephew, Jamal Darrow, who was charged with stabbing the vet to death during a robbery, was arrested in the Lone Star State 10 years later and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence at the Green Haven Correctional Facility.
Litwin was also involved in the arrest of Angus Pascall, a former FDNY EMT and serial rapist whose victims included an 11-year-old girl.
Pascall was ultimately convicted and hit with an 89-years-to-life prison sentence in 2013.
“I have worked on murders, serial rape cases, violent crimes,” Litwin said. “Every case that I helped solve was very satisfying because I was able to help victims and their families. I feel like along with my partners we helped make the city safer.”
The veteran cop grew up in Midwood, the son of Police Officer Leon Litwin — who was stationed at the 69th Precinct in Canarsie before dying of cancer while still on the job.
The younger Litwin began his career at the 71st Precinct in Crown Heights.
He credits his mentor at the precinct, Sgt. Ted Sica, with showing him the ropes — and teaching him how to be a cop the right way.
“Teddy taught me and so many others so much,” Litwin said. “He taught us how to be good detectives, and more importantly how to be better people.”
“He stressed how we should take care of our victims and their families,” he said. “I never forgot that.”
Retired NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said Litwin went on to pay it forward.
“His tenacity, dignity and intelligence exemplify everything that is good with the NYPD,” Boyce told The Post. “Besides solving his own cases, Steve has helped many young detectives become better investigators.”
“This is a big loss for the NYPD and the people of the city of New York,” Boyce added.
Litwin will spend his early days of retirement on vacation upstate — where he’ll hit the beach and work on his backstroke before he starts job hunting in September.
“It is bittersweet,” he said of hanging up his badge and gun. “I loved my job, every day, every minute I spent on it.”