Carl Junction Police Chief Mark McCall Retires After 25 Years

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. – Carl Junction Police Chief Mark McCall officially celebrated his retirement Tuesday during a retirement party surrounded by coworkers, friends and members of the community after 25 years with the Carl Junction Police Department, including the last five years as chief.

Before joining CJPD, McCall also worked in law enforcement with the Joplin Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

Carl Junction City Administrator Steve Laver has worked with McCall for more than two decades and watched him move through the department's ranks.

"I've worked with the chief for the past 20-some years. He started as a patrol officer, and then he worked his way up through the ranks to chief. It's been nice. He's been a really solid employee and a great individual."

Laver said one of McCall's biggest contributions has been upgrading technology and equipment at the police department.

"I think the biggest change he's made has been our technology upgrades that we've done at the police department, the equipment upgrades. He's done a really good job of that."

For McCall, the decision to retire came after 25 years in law enforcement and an opportunity at Missouri Southern State University.

"After 25 years, there are just other things to do and another position at the college opened up just at the right time. And so go out there and it will be a little less stressful, take it a little bit more easy. Maybe not quite as many phone calls at night."

McCall said his time with the Carl Junction Police Department has allowed him to grow both personally and professionally.

"You know, you grow and mature a lot. From the first day when you start the job, you wind up a lot different. Like I said, maturing, growing. The relationships with other agencies, the officers, the employees, you know, that's just a lot of it is connections that I take with me that I know I can always call on if I need something."

When asked about his favorite part of his career, McCall pointed out the opportunity he had to work his way through the department.

"I think just the aspects. Since I went from patrolman, worked my way up through the ranks to become the Chief for the last five years, just the overall experience has been really good."

After a quarter-century with the Carl Junction Police Department, McCall is moving on to a new position at Missouri Southern State University.

His retirement party Tuesday marked the end of a career that took him from patrol officer to police chief and gave him the opportunity to build lasting relationships throughout the law enforcement community.

As McCall begins his next chapter, he leaves behind 25 years of service to the Carl Junction community.