COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — After nearly 20 years with the Colerain Township Police Department, Chief Mark C. Denney has retired. His last call took place Wednesday at noon outside the department’s police station.

During Colerain Township’s most recent Board of Trustee Meeting, Denney called it an honor to have spent a significant portion of his law enforcement career working in and serving his hometown. He started as a CTPD officer in 2004 and, in the course of a decade, rose to the rank of chief.

“Very few people have the luxury of knowing (at a young age) what they want to be when they grow up, but I did. And to get to do that in your home (community) is just an amazing honor,” he said. 

Members of the Colerain Township Police Department join retired Mark Denney on his last day on the job. (Photo courtesy of Colerain Township)

During his eight-year tenure as chief, Denney served under 13 different members of the Board of Trustees and four township administrators.

“Every one of them has been very supportive of the police department and me,” he said, adding that, “As a chief, you can’t get anything done without support from your elected officials, and I can’t point to a single event where I haven’t had that.” 

In a statement, the township noted that Denney played a key role in helping, if not elevating, the Colerain Police Department’s “exemplary status with (The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.), also known as CALEA. It’s widely considered the “gold standard in public safety,” the release said.

Before moving to the Colerain Township Police Department, Denney spent about 10 years working for the Cheviot Police Department, which oversees a small city in west-central Hamilton County. To make the career move, Denney, then a sergeant, had to take a demotion to patrol officer.

Denney’s retirement came as no surprise. He first announced his intentions to step down late last year.

In December 2021, Colerain Township began its search for a new chief. The search led to “three highly qualified internal candidates” for the position, including longtime CTPD officer Ed Cordie.

The three-member Board of Trustees unanimously voted to name Cordie Colerain's next police chief. Cordie, who's been with the department since 2008, was sworn in during the board's meeting on Aug. 23.

Before taking over as chief, Cordie had a months-long mentorship under Denney. Denney described Cordie as “accomplished, experienced and the right man for the job.” 

In the past 52 years, Colerain Township has had seven police chiefs, including Cordie. The badge Denney passed on to Cordie has been worn by every Colerain police chief. 

As for Denney, he said he plans to focus on photography and spend time with his family during his retirement.