By Megan Alley
Sun staff
The local chapter of Crime Stoppers will present village of Bethel Police Chief Mark Planck with a lifetime achievement award during its annual awards breakfast on Oct. 6.
“Mark is a really good person, a good police officer and a great police chief,” said Chuck Kreimer, director of the chapter, which serves greater Cincinnati, northern Kentucky and southeast Indiana.
He added, “Bethel is very lucky to have him.”
Crime Stoppers, an international nonprofit organization founded in 1976, provides a hotline and online portal for the public to use to provide law enforcement agencies with information or tips about crimes and suspects. The anonymous tips can often earn cash rewards.
“We solve a lot of ‘whodunits,’” Kreimer said.
Since its founding in 1980, the chapter has solved more than 16,000 local crimes, including 500 homicide and 250 rape cases, and it has doled out more than $2 million in reward money.
“Mark is active in the chapter,” Kreimer explained.
“He attends local meetings of law enforcement and helps with outreach and fundraising events; it’s his way of helping us make money which ultimately helps Bethel.”
Planck, a native of Bethel, got his start in the department in 1987 as a dispatcher. He climbed the ranks, working as an auxiliary officer, a part-time officer and a full-time officer before being named chief in 2008.
“I’m honored to be receiving this award,” he said.
Earlier this summer, Planck was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Clermont County Citizens Law Enforcement Association and Clermont Chamber of Commerce’s annual police appreciation banquet.
Mayor Alan Ausman nominated him for that award, which led to the Clermont County Police Chiefs’ and Sheriffs’ Association nominating him for the Crime Stoppers award.
“Mark has been so dedicated to this village,” Ausman said. “To live here his whole life, and then work his way up to chief, he just has such a love for this village, and he just cares so much about the people of it.”
He added, “He’s so knowledgeable; I’m just proud of him and glad he could be recognized.”
When asked to describe his leadership style of the department, which is made up of four full-time and four part-time officers, Planck responded, “I keep a tight grip on loose reigns.”
The awards banquet, which will be held at 7:30 a.m. at JACK Cincinnati Casino, located downtown at 1000 Broadway St., is open to the public. Interested parties can purchase a table for $1,000 or a seat for $100.
During the event, village of Amelia resident Jill Jones, who stopped an attempted burglary at her apartment complex in early June, will be presented with the Crime Stopper of the Year award.
“As far as I’m concerned, Jill can be Wonder Woman or Batwoman, or whoever she wants to be,” Kreimer said. “She can be my neighbor too.”