By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
The words didn’t come easily for Mark Cook. With uniformed city police officers sitting behind him, Cook struggled to say, “It was an honor, a privilege,” referring to his long career serving Decatur in law enforcement.
“The support of these guys is twofold,” he continued. “This city is safe and these guys (other department members) will keep it that way.”
Cook was honored at Tuesday night’s meeting of city council for his 31 years, six months and four days as a member of the local department. It was announced in February that he would be leaving the force to take a job in the private sector. His last day was July 5.
Cook served under five police chiefs and four mayors.
“We have a wonderful city, a safe city, and (our police) are a big part of that,” Mayor Dan Rickord said. “Mark Cook has dedicated his whole career to keeping our city safe.”
Cook spent three years as a reserve, then joined the department full-time in January of 1993. He was promoted to sergeant in April of 2011.
Councilman Matt Dyer said he remembered a time during the Great Flood of 2003 how early on “no one quite knew what to do, but there was Mark taking charge.”
In a resolution read by City Attorney Anne Razo, it was noted that Cook was a valuable member of the city PD as evidenced by “his many certifications as a DARE officer, ILEA general instructor, specialized trainings to serve as a defensive tactics instructor, field training officer, department training coordinator, OPO grant coordinator, force science analyst, crash reconstruction officer, and off-duty security work coordinator.”
The resolution also noted that he served Adams County as deputy corner and then coroner; that he was a field officer with the county’s Community Corrections program, conducting home visits and monitoring individuals in the program.
The resolution also pointed out that Cook “demonstrated courage and selflessness in his service to our community; was quick to volunteer for additional training opportunities and became a stong leader and educator within the department…”
The lengthy resolution closed by saying that “Mark Cook worked diligently and effectively to protect the safety of his fellow officers and all citizens of Decatur … the citizens of Decatur are indebted to Mark Cook for his many years of dedicated service as a law enforcement officer, for his willingness to put his life at risk to protect others, and for his desire to maintain respect for citizens, his officers and his department itself.”
It also said that the council members “express their deepest gratitude to Mark Cook for his leadership, service and his effort to maintain the highest integrity and professionalism within the department.”
Cook was accompanied to the meeting by his fiance, Carly Ann Raymond, and some family members. Several police officers attended, including Trent Busse, who has moved into Cook’s sergeant post.
The longtime officer left the department for a position in the Northeast Indiana Liaison Office for grant writers through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
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