about

Mark Nichols is a life-long resident of Randolph County. Mark was born in 1964 to Oliver B. and Mary E. Nichols. In 1969, Mark and his parents moved to rural Higbee. After Mark graduated from Higbee High School The attended and graduated from Moberly Area Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Education. Mark has two daughters, Logan Elizabeth and Alaina Marie. Mark and his daughters are members of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Moberly. Mark enjoys following his daughters in their extra-curricular activities. In April of 1986, at age 21, Mark was hired by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff and was assigned to the patrol division. In July 1986, Mark graduated from the University of Missouri Columbia Law Enforcement Training Institute at which time The received his law enforcement certification. Since that time, Mark has received over 2000 hours of continued education in the law enforcement and corrections field. Mark is training oriented and encourages his staff to attend training, especially in specialized areas, insuring that they remain current on the most up to date investigative techniques and laws. In May of 1990, Mark was hired as a Correctional Officer I with the Missouri Department of Corrections at the Moberly Correctional Center site. Mark learned many valuable skills for dealing with the incarcerated. During Marks tenure with the Department of Corrections, The was trained and assisted the Correctional Investigation Unit as an Advanced Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) operator. This instrument is truth verification device or lie detector. Mark also assisted in successfully developing the drug interdiction unit. Mark also served on the Correctional Center Emergency Squad (E-Squad) as well as the Corrections Special Tactics Assault and Response team (C-STAR). These are SWAT teams for correctional facilities. Mark was called to duty with these specialty teams, several times, to assist in controlling disturbances at prisons across the State. In January 1997, Mark returned to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and was assigned the position of Chief Deputy, a position which The held until June 2004. While serving Randolph County as Chief Deputy Sheriff, Mark’s duties were to assist the Sheriff with the day-to-day operations of the patrol division, investigation unit, court service, civil process service, jail and dispatch divisions. It was Mark’s duty to develop policy and procedure for the department. During his time as Chief Deputy, Mark successfully wrote grants for much need equipment. The attended monthly meetings throughout the County as a representative of the department to ensure community involvement by the Sheriff’s Office. While attending County Commission meetings as the representative for the Sheriff’s Office, Mark worked hard to design a jail and sheriff’s office in the Justice Center to ensure that the officers would be able to conduct their duties and tasks in a safe and efficient manner. Mark continues his commitment to protecting the citizens of Randolph County as well as the welfare of his deputies and other staff members.