K9 Dog, Longtime Police Officer Retire In Middletown Township

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Officials recently said farewell to several employees who served the township government and police department for years on their retirements.

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors honored Paul Kopera, director of Parks & Recreation, and Bill Whittaker, equipment 0perator with the Department of Public Works, on their retirements.

"Both dedicated decades of service to Middletown Township, leaving a lasting impact on our parks, facilities, and infrastructure," officials said. "We thank them for their commitment to our community and wish them all the best in retirement."

Then, at another meeting, supervisors recognized and honored some of our dedicated police officers and K9s.

Township officials congratulated Police Officer Mike Marks on his retirement after 30 years of honorable service.

Officials also honored Sgt. Steve Andrews and K9 Jester, who was retiring after nine years of dedicated service.

The Middletown Community Foundation presented the township with a check to support the purchase of our newest K9, CJ, who is assigned to Police Officer Kevin Eckenrode.

"We are grateful to the Middletown Community Foundation for their ongoing support of our police department, particularly our K9 program," officials said.

The Middletown Township Police Department honored Marks.

"It is crazy to think we won’t see him strolling our halls anymore," officials said. "His retirement has long been on the horizon, trust us, he talked about it frequently."

Marks served in several roles.

He was a Field Training Officer, helping shape and guide the next generation of township police officers.

He also served as a UAS operator, was an outstanding firearms instructor, and proudly worked as a K-9 handler, partnering with two police dogs during his career, Usher and Bach.

Beyond his assignments and accomplishments, Marks was known throughout the department as a mentor, leader, and trusted colleague.

"He has always been someone younger officers could turn to for guidance — someone willing to take them under his wing to ensure they learned how to do this job the right way," officials said. "He would bust on you relentlessly, but that was just part of his charm, and to let you know you were one of the crew. For over 30 years, Mike has given his time, his energy, and all of himself to this police department. Every day he came to work, he helped make this police department a better place and our township a safer community."

(Middletown Township)