Sandpoint’S New Chief Dons Badge Attending Budget Workshop Mark Lockwood’S First Duty

Mark Lockwood fulfilled a long-held dream Wednesday when he signed the oath of office for Sandpoint police chief.

Mayor Paul Graves swore Lockwood into office before the City Council and representatives from the Idaho State Police, Bonner County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies.

Lockwood’s wife, Lucille, pinned the badge on Lockwood’s new, dark blue Sandpoint police uniform, and they kissed.

“This, I hope, is the beginning of a long era for us with Mark as our police chief,” Graves said. “After the transition, I hope that we continue the tradition of an effective and hospitable police department.”

After the short ceremony, Lockwood said his biggest challenge is “replacing a man who’s been chief here for 17 years. They’re very large shoes to fill.”

Chief Bill Kice retired this spring. Also retiring from the department are Captain Ralph Mavity and detective Andy Anderson, who each served 23 years.

Lockwood’s first duty as police chief was to sit down with the City Council and department heads Wednesday night for a budget workshop. He said he knows he has at least two hires to make, following the retirements, and possibly more.

Lockwood, 42, comes from the Sun Valley police force, where he served as a lieutenant. He’ll earn $52,878 as Sandpoint’s chief. He was chosen from three candidates interviewed for the job by council members, the mayor and Priest River police chief Elaine Savage.

Lockwood holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice from the College of Southern Idaho and has attended the FBI national academy.

He started his career as a reserve officer in Kimberly, Idaho, in 1979. Since then he has served as a patrolman in Burley, Filer and Jerome. He worked for the ISP in 1984 before heading to Sun Valley in 1985.

“This has been a goal of mine for most of my law enforcement career,” Lockwood said after getting his badge. “After having seen this community and the amenities it had to offer, I thought it would be a great place to be and raise my little cabooses.”

The Lockwoods have four children. Their oldest, 19-year-old Donald, is in college. The youngest, 8-year-old Aaron, attended the swearing in.

Afterward, ISP Cpl. Chris Yount handed him a sticker with the ISP insignia and teased, “You need to have a real badge there, son.”

While Lockwood is now on the job, his family is still living in Hailey until they can complete the sale of their home.