What inspired Mark Monks to become a police officer was the idea that he could help people and change the world. Twenty years later, he has realized that what he enjoys most is working to help others and informing young children about the duties of a police officer.
The city of Portage has impacted Monks’s life tremendously. Monks grew up, and continues to live, in Portage.
Along with being a police officer, Monks is very active in the community. He helps out with his son’s little league team as an assistant coach, as well with Portage Youth Basketball. Monks also goes to elementary schools and teaches the students what it is like to be a police officer, when Monks had a police dog he would take them with him to make it easier to talk to them.
“I wanted to work in a community I live in. It’s nice to know that I’m helping make things better for my family and my neighbors,” Monks said.
Monks awarded “Portage Police Officer of the Year” in July of this past year at the American Legions banquet in Indianapolis. Monks was both flattered and honored when he had found out that he was receiving this award.
“What it meant to me was that somebody was paying attention, and someone thought to say thank you for what you’ve done for 19 years because sometimes in any job you feel unsatisfied, unrewarded and so it’s nice to get a pat on the back and get recognized for what you do,” Monks said.
Monks was nominated and selected by his fellow police officers in his department. The American Legion in the state of Indiana then decided to vote Monks as the Police Officer of the Year.
“I really don’t know if it was one thing, I didn’t do anything that super stood out in the year, I think it might have just been the body of my work over 20 years, but I was extremely flattered and honored. My family was just thrilled to death as well,” Monks said.