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Randolph County Sheriff

Mark NicholsMark Nichols
372 Highway JJ
Huntsville, MO  65270
Office Hours: Weekdays-- 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Telephone #      660-277-5095
E-mail Address: randcosheriff@missvalley.com

Mark Nichols is a life-long resident of Randolph County. Mark was born in Moberly in 1964 and then moved with his parents to rural Higbee in 1969. After graduating from Higbee High School, he attended and graduated from Moberly Community College with an Associates Degree in Education.

At age 21, Mark was hired by the Randolph County Sheriff's Department as a deputy sheriff and he was assigned to the Patrol Division. Mark graduated in July 1986 from the University of Missouri Columbia Law Enforcement Training Institute at which time he received his law enforcement certification.

Mark has been married to his wife, Francine, since the spring of 1990. Mark and Francine have two daughters. They are active in many church and school activities and serve on several committees.

After 3 1/2 years with the Randolph County Sheriff's Department, Mark left and was employed by the Missouri Department of Corrections at the Moberly Correctional Center site. Mark was assigned as a Correctional Officer I where he learned many valuable skills for dealing with the incarcerated. During Mark's tenure with the Department of Corrections, he was trained and assisted the Correctional Investigation Unit as an Advanced Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA) Operator. This machine is a lie detection device. Mark also assisted in the development of the Drug Testing Unit. He served on the Emergency Squad as well as the Correctional—Special Tactics Assault and Response Team. (These teams are the SWAT teams for correctional facilities.) Mark was called to duty several times to assist in controlling disturbances at prisons around the state.

After 6 1/2 years of service with the Missouri Department of Corrections, Mark was hired by the Randolph County Sheriff's Department as Chief Deputy Sheriff, a position he held from January, 1997 to June 10, 2004 . While serving Randolph County as the Chief Deputy Sheriff, Mark's duties were to assist the Sheriff with the day-to-day operations of the patrol division, detective unit, court services, jail, and dispatch divisions. It was Mark's duty to develop policy and procedures for the department. During his seven and a half years with the Department, Mark successfully wrote grants for much needed equipment. He attended monthly meetings throughout the county as a representative of the Department to ensure community involvement by the Sheriff's Office. While attending the County Commissioner's meetings as the representative of the Sheriff's Department, Mark worked hard to design a jail in the justice center to ensure that the officers would be able to conduct their duties in a safe manner. Mark continues with his commitment to protecting the citizens of Randolph County and protecting the welfare of his deputies and staff members.

Mark is training-oriented. He has over 1500 hours of law enforcement and correctional training. He had been the training coordinator for the Randolph County Sheriff's Department from 1996 to 2004.

Mark was one of five recipients of the Medal of Valor award presented by the Moberly Police Department after a 1999 gun battle with two escaped Georgia prison inmates. He was also the recipient of the 1999 Moberly Optimist Club Officer of the Year award for the Randolph County Sheriff's Department.

Since 1997, Mark has been active with the Missouri Deputy Sheriff's Association (MDSA) and was appointed a Regional Representative for 22 counties. He held this position for 3 years. Mark was then elected to the Executive Board of Directors for MDSA, a position he continues to hold today.

Mark is the Chief Firearms Instructor with the Moberly Community College Law Enforcement Training Center. He also sits on the Advisory Board for the Moberly Area Community College - Law Enforcement Training Center. Mark has assisted in the training of over 300 students who have graduated from the Law Enforcement Training Center and is a Certified Specialist Instructor for the Missouri Department of Public Safety. This is a certification that is bestowed upon those instructors who possess expert knowledge in their field of instruction.

Mark serves on the Randolph County Child Fatality Review Team, the Randolph County Caring Communities Substance Abuse Action Team and is a board member of the North Missouri Drug Task Force.

Mark is active with the Higbee Masonic Lodge where he serves as lodge secretary. He also belongs to the Moberly Tancred Commandry of the Knights Templar, Moberly Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Centralia Council, Coon Creek Shrine Club, Ararat Shrine Temple, Northeast Missouri Peace Officer's Association, Moberly Optimist Club, National Sheriff's Association, Missouri Sheriff's Association, and the National Rifle Association.

Mark is a graduate of Randolph County EXCEL VIII Leadership Development class that is sponsored by the University of Missouri Extension Office.

Mark is a graduate of the Missouri State Highway Patrol 95th Supervision School.