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Lycoming County sheriff to retire after half-century of service

By Mark Maroney 21 min read

When voters head to the primary election on May 20, they will not see R. Mark Lusk's name on the ballot for Lycoming County Sheriff.

"I was a little boy who grew up and became everything a little boy wants to be," said the 66-year-old who said he has decided to retire from about 50 years of dedicated service to Lycoming County in the Old Lycoming Township Police Department, Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Department, Lycoming County Coroner's office and as Lycoming County Sheriff.

"This is unique for me," he confessed at his desk on the third floor of the Lycoming County courthouse.

"I've never not worked two or three jobs," he said.

Asked about his immediate plans, he said, "I don't know."

"I am not one to sit still. I won't sit on a couch . . . but I am never not helping."

If Lusk would have run another campaign he said he believed he would be obligated to serve the four years.

That would place him at 71 years of age.

"I use a phrase I want to retire to die, I don't want to die to retire," he said.

It was important to Lusk to make sure the registered voters would not see his name on the primary election ballot.

"A lot of people don't know I won't be on the ballot," he said.

Lusk said he is so grateful to all of those in his life who helped him realize the dream of a youngster from Loyalsock Township High School.

Some of that boyhood playfulness is exhibited in his office. On the sheriff's desk is a red phone, which resembles the Bat phone, a replica without a cord of what was featured on the television show in the mansion of millionaire Bruce Wayne. Wayne, along with his crime-fighting counterpart, Robin, would pick the red phone up when it blinked to take calls from Commissioner Jim Gordon of the Gotham City Police Department. The duo would then slide down poles to the bat cave and jump into the batmobile. While Lusk doesn't have a sidekick like that or a double-seated car that shoots flames from the exhaust, what he has done is answer the calls – many more years than did TV's Batman and Robin.

In fact, Lusk has devoted a half-century to responding to calls for help, many of which occurred when he was about to sit down to dinner with family, on holidays, when he deserved some much needed rest, and when he was, perhaps, not feeling his best.

Why?

The short answer is because it is in his DNA.

His has been a career of many positions (or hats as he said) dedicated to responding to the pleas of others when called, and serving the public, spending his time, sometimes risking his life for the lives of others while also remaining committed to himself and the role models who helped guide his path toward a successful career in law enforcement, volunteer firefighting, coroner's office work and sheriff.

His lengthy bio that Lusk provided to the Sun-Gazette, which is a curriculum vitae, revealed that commitment which continues to this day.

Leadership from early years

Lusk said he was chairman of the high school prom, which had a theme of Mystic Seaport. While captaining that fun school event, and while in high school he also said he was hired by Jack and Delores Yost at the former Mr. Pizza on the Golden Strip.

The Yosts offered him a job at the pizza joint, where he cut his teeth in the business of serving customers a fresh product. "They taught me how to work hard, and that I did," Lusk said. "And I have worked hard since."

From early on, Lusk said he wanted to become a police officer. While in high school, he interned at the former Old Lycoming Township Police Department, one of the more respected in the county. He said he got there with help from a teacher and a program offered by the school district.

Bicentennial approaching

America was in a celebratory mood as it approached its 200th birthday in 1976.

It was 1975, a year out from the nation's birthday bash, and a faculty member at Loyalsock Township School District, Ronald Warren, an American cultures and world cultures teacher, had become influential in young Lusk's life.

Lusk said he had a desire to go into law enforcement and that school year, academic seniors with credit went out into the field of their choice. As he gravitated toward law enforcement, he began as a police cadet, where he logged 2,000 hours of donated time while in high school under what was known as the S.P.A.C.E. (Senior Professional & Career Experience Program). Warren was the class adviser, according to Lusk's bio.

Lusk, who had patriotism flowing through his veins, especially in this era of the mid-1970s, was senior class president, when the Class of '76 celebrated the nation's bicentennial.

For those old enough it was a year of fireworks and parades, grand speeches and declarations, visits to places such as Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and where the Constitution was drafted, and, in general, people dressing up in costumes – white wigs and three corner hats for men, ruffled shirts and long dresses for women.

Among his beloved "mentors" was the late Old Lycoming Township Police Chief Salvatore A. Casale, who was 84 when he passed away last September.

He smiled when thinking about Casale, whose career highlights and exploits were well documented in a prior Sun-Gazette feature story.

Casale was renowned for his avant garde approach to policing, bringing into the department many forms of policing that continue to this day under the Lycoming Regional Police Department. Casale wanted to see the department improve in all ways and for being able to tell a good cadet prospect and hire the right dedicated force.

"Chief Casale allowed me to grow and get training," Lusk said, adding over the years, because of Casale, he learned "how to become a police officer," at the department. In a way, Lusk made good on Casale's investment in him. Over several years, Lusk held several positions in the department including patrolman, corporal, sergeant, detective, and chief of police.

Appointed patrolman in 1977, Lusk was promoted in 1987 to detective/corporal, and again promoted to sergeant in 2002, and served as chief from 2022 to 2007.

Among the many highlights was Lusk writing and implementing the successful police contract services municipal agreement between Old Lycoming, Lycoming and Hepburn townships.

During his career he was honored to have received the First Place Highway Safety Award by Gov. Richard Thornburgh in 1987, gained an arson investigation certification from the National Fire Academy and a certification as a court expert witness from the fire academy. He referred to some of the major accomplishments of his office, which has included working with the U.S. Marshal Service in fighting crime. One might notice the fire-related training.

That's because Lusk served "laterally" in the Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Department, where he was an active firefighter, lieutenant, captain and assistant chief.

Lusk's public service and his knowledge of emergency medical service provision continued as a member of the coroner's office, where he was first a part-time coroner, and then part-time chief deputy coroner before he became chief deputy coroner full-time with the county.

Another mentor of his was given credit: Charles "Chuck" E. Kiessling Jr., today's county coroner, also worked side by side with Lusk in the fire department. Both served leadership positions in the department.

"Chuck was my captain at the fire department," he said.

Another mentor of Lusk's was former Lycoming County Sheriff Charles T. Brewer.

Brewer asked him if he would be willing to become sheriff.

"I turned him down twice," Lusk said. Eventually, Brewer's requests wore him down and he capitulated.

A mission seemingly directed

from above

"I've been able to help people in a whole lot of ways in all kinds of different venues," Lusk said, smiling about that.

As a police instructor, as a fire academy instructor and with all of the training necessary, Lusk was able to transfer that knowledge to others in the EMS and law enforcement fields and he never once takes for granted faith in the divine that directed his path.

"I've been blessed," he said, pausing a moment before continuing.

"I think it's almost been a mission," he said. "It was almost like God meant for me to help people as much as I can and, honestly, that is where I get the most enjoyment from what I've done."

Lusk admitted with human frailty some situations he could not resolve alone.

"Sometimes I can't help people to fix a problem that they have," he said. But, overall, he said he takes pride in knowing that people from all walks of life have asked him to lend a hand.

"I've found that when you help people come together and become a cohesive operation it works really well," he said.

"One of my strengths is I am a good leader because I can facilitate. I can coordinate. Sometimes you can get good because practice makes perfect," he said.

Lusk also said he is proud to have been summoned by others who when the rubber hits the road who often say – 'Call Sheriff Lusk,' and for being then able to bring whatever resources he can get from the county. That happened over the years during major flooding events, the most recent in Trout Run.

"I am very fortunate from the sense that if I pick up a phone at a major incident and I need to call a commissioner or fellow elected row officer or private sector individual who owns a company that makes supplies (gloves or paper products) I can do that and make a call and we get what we need in a really big way."

Government's role and missed moments

"That is what we should be doing," he said. "Government should be offering as much help as we can provide to help victims."

Lusk was asked what are some other things he is most proud of throughout his career.

He turned the attention less to himself and shared his appreciation for his family who have over the years allowed him to respond to emergencies and calls and miss precious family time, often at the most inopportune of the day or night.

"I am proud of the fact that my family has always endured when I have not been there," he said.

"I can't tell you how many times we have had a fire on New Year's Eve, a major incident and crime scene on the Fourth of July," he said.

For many volunteers and career public safety servants, missing holidays is commonplace.

"We miss whole holidays and my family has tolerated that and never stopped sharing the love they have for myself or what I have for them," he said.

Again, he repeated, he was grateful for his family's longsuffering.

They say, 'Dad won't be here,' he said. These times include picnics. "I hate to miss picnics because I love food," he said, laughing.

Sage wisdom

Lusk was asked what advice he would give to those wanting to embark on a career in law enforcement, first responder, fire service or EMS.

"Don't discount a career opportunity that you think you don't want to do, because most of us end up in a career from when we are young that we never expected to be in," he said. It is a mantra he said that he gives in speeches to students exploring becoming a police officer, firefighter, or working in EMS.

"Make sure you get your education," Lusk said of prospective members of the law enforcement, EMS or in forensics and coroner offices.

That includes graduating from high school or getting a general equivalency diploma. "Then pursue an associate or four-year degree and then apply, apply and apply," he said.

"You can always turn down a position you are offered. You can't turn down a position that you don't apply for," he said.

Also, test as much as possible, and interact as much as "you can when testing because practice makes perfect."

To Lusk, using the cell phone and texting to communicate is not a be-it-all skill set needed in job applications/interviews. In fact, that has become a hindrance for some applicants.

"We want to see how you think, react, rationalize, put two sentences together and how well you write," he said. "Be very aggressive when looking for a position and apply everywhere."

Rewards of his career

There might be too many highlights to capture in a single story but he discussed some of them.

"I delivered a baby in the field," he said.

"I've had victims who've passed away under my care before we get to the hospital where I have been the last person they speak to. But also had those who I believe I had a hand in saving their lives. It has been extremely rewarding to have been able to do that."

Lusk placed value in his contribution to ensuring the protection of the county's victims, including children and those suffering loss and damage from structure fires.

"I took great pride as a police detective," he said. One of his specializations was in fire arson investigation and the other becoming nationally certified in courts as an expert witness and a certification in child abuse and child sexual abuse.

"I put a number of perpetrators in state prison for victimizing our children," he said, adding these were heinous crimes where perpetrators injured the children intentionally.

He mentioned his commitment to helping to promote safety with youths and devised programs where "kids feel safe and interact with law enforcement, so they are not afraid to come forward."

Sheriff's Jail

Each July, at the Lycoming County Fair in Hughesville, across from the ticket booth, is the Sheriff's Jail, which Lusk said he had patterned after Marshal Matt Dillon's in the television show "Gunsmoke."

"We partnered with the Fair Association and with non-taxpayer dollars were able to pay for a little less than half of the building," he said.

Today, it is a "jail for kids to come in and have pictures taken behind bars," he said. What is lesser known is that the back half is a "command operation."

Whenever there is an emergency requiring law enforcement, a fight or skirmish, which is seldom – the jail acts as the command post, he said.

"We don't put up with nonsense," he noted. "If you are coming to the fair and create a problem you are coming to the wrong fair," he said.

It is the same philosophy at the courthouse.

"No nonsense and shenanigans," he said.

Another youth-oriented activity that evolved as an original program out of the tragic COVID-19 pandemic was the "Drive-by Birthdays," he said.

"The kids were shut-ins," he said, with the sheriff's department inventing a way around it without violating state and federal government health and safety regulations.

The drive-bys with the staff would allow them to safely provide gifts and take a photo for their children to celebrate the day. To this day, parents compliment the department for this idea.

Lusk said he believes it is important to "think out of the box," and "help the public when they need help."

"Sometimes we forget that in government. I don't forget it. I don't forget where my roots were," Lusk said.

Changes over the years

When asked, Lusk said first responders and others charged in the protection of the public are being overregulated.

"We are tremendously overregulated," he said. "We are regulating volunteers out of business."

Lusk acknowledged the value of the volunteers, but also their struggles that do not seem to be changing for the better.

"We need volunteer fire personnel tremendously." he said, noting how volunteer fire service in Pennsylvania is in "dire straits." The number of volunteers was as high as 300,000 two to less than three decades ago. That now has dwindled to about 30,000 today, he said, citing a statistic from the state Fire Academy.

Among those hurdles for volunteers is the overregulation.

For example, today an emergency medical technician certification requires 250 hours when before that was accomplished in 84 hours of class both didactic and practical.

Paperwork for those on ambulance calls used to consist of a single page. Today, volunteers are expected to fill out several pages.

Lusk clarified that he was not saying that training was not needed.

"There has to be a happy medium because nobody has come up with a solution on staffing," he said. "Nobody wants a situation where a fire department can't get to an emergency at a house but it is not uncommon to hear repeated dispatches from fire and EMS personnel asking for more help."

Technological advancement

Over the years, Lusk said he has been in the business long enough to see technology advances that are leaps and bounds over when he first started.

In terms of law enforcement, forensics has advanced at light speed.

Collection of DNA evidence has changed the calculus, helping to identify alleged offenders, a process that was once confined to fingerprint identification at crime scenes.

Sometimes, fingerprints could be on file for 10 years. Today, there is fingerprint analysis with Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) that uses biometrics giving police the ability to match fingerprints to potential suspects more quickly and helping to solve cases.

The advancement in surveillance and camera technology during Lusk's time has changed, for the better. "How we process, how we capture incidents, using camera systems . . . in car camera information, cameras officers wear," he said.

The downside to technology, obviously, is the considerable cost, he said.

Today, too, the departments have better training available for officers to protect their safety, better instruction on techniques on how to enter buildings, and qualify at the shooting range. Fire departments have drones to view buildings and thermal sensing cameras to see where fires are located.

But none of these advancements matter without the blood, sweat and tears of the men and women in these departments and companies. In this county, they can be counted on – despite their dwindling numbers.

"I've learned that residents and first responders and local government for the most part really kick in," he said. "We join together. We all have areas of expertise to bring to the table and make things happen," he said, adding that "government is not known for making things happen too often."

Although modest, Lusk said one of his hallmarks of his time in offices and volunteering has been his dedication and commitment to helping the people of this county at their worst moments and greatest time of need.

He said he will leave his desk at the office, or leave from his home and will ask the victims what he can do to help.

Most recently, in August, he was at Trout Run, gathering the resources and being among those from the county and Lewis Township to hold meetings for the public, easing their minds by bringing in resources and working together with the local volunteer departments.

What's next?

Lusk enjoys when his grandchildren call him Pappy. He also has a large property that will keep him busy to maintain it.

But he said he foresees times in the future when he might be needed, especially during floods.

"Lycoming County is geographically designed so that we are going to have high water," he said.

"I can see myself showing up at another flooding incident."

As a retired sheriff, he will still be helping.

"I've been blessed to have been healthy," he said.

"One thing I am really bad at is I don't say 'no' if someone calls me. I don't do well with that sometimes to a fault."

But the timing of the retirement feels right.

"When you seek office the election cycle is a four-year cycle," he said, adding he felt blessed with the public's strong show of support over the years, where he has garnered 80 to 90 % of the vote even with opponents.

"If I would stay, run and be reelected I'd be just over 71," he said. "That is a lot of time in law enforcement. The pressures of law enforcement are very tough."

Lusk said as he departs from the sheriff office he is "indebted to those who have helped him in so many ways. He remains thankful for the support through his campaigns and people who came forward to help him.

He is grateful for those who want to chat when he has scheduled the time, or off the cuff.

"Folks who come in and just want to talk, who want to thank me, see how I am doing, how I've been," he said.

He was grateful for his connections with the Sun-Gazette through the years.

Lusk teaches classes on how to be a public information officer and how to interact with the media.

"I have always said to fire chiefs, police chiefs – 'why would you fight with the media?'' "You won't get front page print . . . you can't buy front page print . . . you will get it from incidents you are willing to speak about."

As a police officer, coroner, sheriff – for Lusk relationships with the press and the public have always centered on building bridges.

His step father taught him a long time ago it is easier to "rebuild a bridge that has not been burned than it is to build a bridge that is completely burned."

"You never know when you will be rewarded in kind," he said, citing a prime example of what happened to him and reminding anyone as a first responder that this can happen any time and any place.

While running for his first election as sheriff he said he was on a rural road outside of Trout Run going door-to-door in his campaign. An individual opened the front door and looked at him up and down. Lusk, who was wearing a suit, introduced himself as a candidate for Lycoming County sheriff and gave the man a short campaign speech.

That is when the guy paused.

"You don't know what you are going to get," Lusk said. "You know, 'you're a policeman, you gave me a ticket,'" he said. "You don't know if it is going to be good, bad or neutral."

"He looked at me and points at me," Lusk said. "Now I really got to figure out what's going to happen," Lusk said.

The man replied, 'I know you,'" Lusk said.

"I said, 'I apologize I don't know you.'"

The man continued: "A long time ago I ran out of gas," he said. (It was on the beltway when it stopped at Foy Avenue.

It was pouring rain and after midnight the man was on his way home from work and ran out of gas).

"'You took me with you back to the township building, got an empty can, took me to the gas station, I did not have any money and you bought gas for that can and put it in my car,'" Lusk said the man said. "He said, 'I never forgot that . . . and you have my support.'"

The message, Lusk believed, was that he did not do anything special. The moral of this was when "you help people – I am a firm believer that you get help in return."

"That is what I've enjoyed in my careers," he said. "All the people who have crossed my path. Whether it was in a fire, devastation, someone they've lost as a loved one passed away at home, a situation where I was involved in some kind of incident – both good or bad – I've tried to be positive and help people wherever I could."

Among his honors and awards, he is most proud of include: Police Officer of the Year, 1990; Community Service Award; Distinguished Public Service Award (Lycoming County commissioners); Distinguished Service Commendation, U.S. House of Representatives; Old Lycoming Township Police Department Exceptional Service Award for an arson fire conviction; YWCA Lycoming County Unsung Hero Award for Domestic Violence Prevention Initiatives and Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence; American Patriot Award.

As he leaves office, Lusk said he is confident the staff at all levels will be fine and carry on with the same commitment and dedication to excellence that he maintained.

It is a teamwork philosophy, and while there is no cape or mask on Lusk, there is a unique way he presents the uniforms of the deputies that work under the sheriff's supervision.

"Our deputy sheriff uniforms don't have the word deputy for a reason, but rather say sheriff, because that is the office they represent."

Starting at /week.