Article submitted by Jamie Fleury, The Pilot News Staff Writer
Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter presented Plymouth Police Department (PPD) Assistant Chief Mark Owen with a Key to the City during the Plymouth Common Council meeting Monday evening. Having served Plymouth since 1994, Officer Owen will be retiring from PPD on January 30.
The Proclamation read:
WHEREAS,
Assistant Chief Mark Owen has dedicated his life to this community, and has demonstrated in many practical ways his deep and genuine love for the Plymouth Police Department, The DARE Program and The City of Plymouth; and
WHEREAS,
Growing up in Hannah, Indiana, Mark went to South Central High School graduating in 1988. He then joined the US Air Force spending most of his time in Louisiana and South Korea; and
WHEREAS,
Officer Owen joined the Plymouth PD on July 18, 1994. He was promoted to sergeant in 2005 and assistant Chief in 2013. From 1999 to 2022 Mark was the local coordinator of the Drug Awareness Resistance Education program (also known as DARE) mentoring more than 5,000 Plymouth students over those years; and
WHEREAS,
Married to Melissa since 1996, Mark has two children: Travis, a current IU medical student, and Kelsey a senior at Depauw University; and
WHEREAS,
Mark has also worked at Martin’s Supermarket as security since 2006. His next stop is working for Walden Security at the US Federal Courthouse in South Bend; and
WHEREAS,
Mark’s leadership and commitment to our community is renowned and he has earned the respect of other officers and DARE coordinators and the affection of a host of area residents who are proud to call him “friend”; and
NOW, therefore, I, Mark Senter, by the virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor, and on behalf of the entire City Council and all our citizens, do hereby present the Key to the City of Plymouth to Assistant Chief Mark Owen and wish him the best in all his future endeavors.
Those present stood and applauded in recognition of Officer Owen’s accomplishments, service and honor.
