Kase joins Bourbon County Sheriff's Office as deputy

Mark Kase

By Michael Glover

Herald-Tribune

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Former Arma Assistant Police Chief Mark Kase is the newest member of the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office.

Kase became a deputy sheriff on Jan. 17, replacing Paul Gamble, who left to become a police officer with the Iola, Kan. Police Department on Dec. 25.

The 45-year-old Kase resigned from the Arma Police Department after a four-year tenure with the agency.

"I'm thrilled to death to work here," Kase said Friday at the Sheriff's Office. "It's a great group here, a great team. I would've never left where I was if I wasn't sure about the department. He was also a Fort Scott Police Officer for more than a year. He then worked for the Arma Police Department, a community he enjoyed serving, he said. Leaving the close-knit community was one of the hardest things he ever did.

He served 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring in 2001, and then jumping straight into law enforcement, joining the Fort Scott that same year.

I know a lot of the people around here and my family is from around here, so that played a role in my decision," Kase, who lives on 230th Street, said.

Bourbon County Sheriff Harold Coleman said the department will be stronger with the level of experience Kase brings to the force.

"We're looking for good times and good things from him," Coleman said. "Kase will help us out. He's going to be an asset to the county, that's for sure."

When he resigned from the Arma position, he received nothing but positive remarks from the Arma City Council.

Kase comes from a military background. His father served in the U.S. Navy, as well. And his son, Chris, recently completed U.S. Marine boot camp training in Paris Island, S.C.