Ottensmeier joins Marion Police Dept.
Staff reporter
It's nice to work in the same town where you live — go home for lunch, no commuting.
When veteran law enforcement officer Mike Ottensmeier of Marion worked for Kansas Highway Patrol, he never knew what part of the state his job would take him. His day began and ended in Marion but locations in-between were typically unknown.
For the 1988 Marion High School graduate, his family is the most important aspect of his life and for him, no job was going to interfere.
Spending more time with his family — wife, Toni, and daughter, Katie — is the reason Ottensmeier decided to leave Kansas Highway Patrol and begin his career with Marion Police Department.
Ottensmeier's law enforcement career began in 1989 when he became a military policeman in the U.S. Air Force.
From there, he was an officer with the Austin, Texas, police department for six years, becoming a state trooper in 2002.
"I've enjoyed my time with KHP and will miss the work and people," Ottensmeier said. "This has been in the back of my mind for eight or nine months," referring to leaving KHP and working for MPD.
The plans came together and April 7 was Ottensmeier's first day as a city officer.
Ottensmeier brings certifications as an accident investigator and commercial vehicle enforcer which could be shared with other departments in the county.
Dealing with people and their problems is Ottensmeier's job and he is excited about the opportunities with the city.
"This is a great police department and the police chief is doing a great job," he said.
With nearly 20 years of experience, Ottensmeier is perfectly content being an officer. He wants to assist police chief Josh Whitwell as much as possible.
Ottensmeier's dream had been to serve as a trooper but dreams can change and being more accessible to his family is more important.
As a city officer, Ottensmeier is getting a good taste of being a policeman in a small town which sometimes means that being an investigator, marriage counselor, and truancy officer is all in a day's work.
When the officer decided it was time for a change, the Ottensmeiers could have moved about anywhere to work and live but the Marion native and his family wanted to remain in Marion.
"This is my hometown where I want my daughter to go to school," he said.
"I'm really looking forward to getting out into the community and serving the residents."
