After 26 years in various roles of escalating responsibilities, the man at the top of public safety for the City of St. Joseph will step away from the job this spring…retiring from the city and headed next to a role with the Berrien County Court System.
Mark Clapp says today that he submitted his Letter of Intent to Retire to the City a week ago and his final day of employment will be on Saturday, April 23, 2016.
In a note to members of the media today Clapp says, "I have had a full career with the City, hired in September of 1990 and am now eligible to retire, and have the opportunity to enjoy a new career." He goes on to say, "I have been offered and accepted a position as court security officer with the Berrien County Courts. My family and I are excited about this new opportunity which allows us to remain in this beautiful area."
Clapp says that during his career he has served in many capacities including the roles of dispatcher, patrolman, detective, Chief of Police, and Director of Public Safety. He tells us, "I found each stage had its own challenges, blessings, learning opportunities, and lessons. I have benefited from each experience, learning and growing tremendously as a result."
Mark goes on to say that the City of St. Joseph is a wonderful place and he expresses thanks to City Manager John Hodgson and the members of the St. Joseph City Commission, past and present, "not only for their steadfast support of both me and the department, but also for allowing me the opportunity to serve the City and its residents for the past 25+ years as a member of both the St. Joseph Police and Public Safety Departments."
Additionally, Clapp expresses his gratitude to the entire public safety department staff both past and present. He concludes, "My career with the City of St. Joseph has gone beyond what I could possibly have imagined when I first started. I owe much to the professional, hard-working, conscientious, dedicated staff. I could not have survived all those years without their professionalism, willingness to do the right thing and their desire to do the best job possible."
He also voiced his pleasure to serve a premier community and thanks the residents for their support.
The file photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market shows Mark Clapp on the right with State Representative Al Pscholka on the left from a photo provided by the GOP House team in Lansing.
