Hello, I’m Mark Knowles and I’m running as a write-in candidate for Sheriff of Rush County.
First of all, I would like to give a special thank you to Sheriff Ward Corsair and his family for the 27 years of dedication to Rush County in law enforcement and I will miss him greatly as a leader. As his friend and a member of his team, I feel that had I announced my intent to run as your Sheriff before he made his final decision to start his new journey, it would have been disrespectful and unprofessional, even though I have always had his support. I know that I am not alone in this thinking as the majority of our team have the same view. I know it was a difficult decision to leave and thank him for his endorsement. I am honored that he entrusted me as his Undersheriff to protect our team and our community and trusts me to fill the role as the Sheriff to carry on and continue our growth. I know Rush County is dear to his heart and he is like me in wanting to make sure to protect the things you hold dear. This upcoming general election is very important for our community and will be determined by our voters, taking a few moments to write a candidates name in the Sheriff section. This also requires the name you choose to be spelled correctly.
I would be honored to fill this important role as the leader of the only law-enforcement agency in Rush County. This position requires a leader that is not afraid to stand up for or against people when it comes time to do what is right, because of his/her fear of being rejected, ridiculed, or embarrassed. This is a position that requires a person that can hit the ground running and has the respect of the team and the community. This is about the citizens and the team, not a personal journey. Rush County needs a leader, like the previous leadership, that has the passion to protect and willingness to do whatever it takes to work things out. There is no room for anything other than a commitment to win and to be there when needed, no matter what. When lives are on the line, there is no room for it being alright either way. I care for my team and our community, so you will never hear me indicate it is alright if I fail. This also includes indicating if my team fails.
Every call that my team and I respond to involves a person having a bad day. Whether they are a victim or suspect, it is a bad day for that person usually. Our team communicates each case and most calls with each other, wanting to grow and learn and to not fail the ones they’ve sworn to protect. This includes every case being reviewed by leadership to assist their growth and to make them better investigators and public servants for you. I would be honored to continue to lead this team, trying to give them the training so they could go work elsewhere, but treating them in a manner that they will never want to leave.
As the current Undersheriff, I have the privilege to lead a team that does this job for this community, knowing that when they put their uniform on and walk out the door, they or one of their team members may not be going home to their families. They are a strong, reliable group that everyday makes sure they conduct themselves in a professional manner. The deputies conduct patrols through our community and strive to see a case done properly from the beginning to the end. Our dispatchers are compassionate and do their best to protect our deputies and the citizens. I am very protective of my team and they are very protective of me. We expect the highest quality of professionalism from each other. Anything less is a disservice to our community and the rest of our team. I am fortunate that my team members put this community ahead of their personal benefit and would put their life on the line to protect a total stranger and a fellow team member.
As the current Undersheriff and if elected as Sheriff, I would like to continue to protect our team and our community, continuing quality law enforcement services that represents honor, integrity, and trust in the Rush County Sheriff’s Office and to the community. I am not a politician and do not like hearing promises of what someone will start doing if elected. If they feel it should have been done, they should have already been doing it. In my career, I have always done more than the minimum requirements and if something is important to you, you pushing yourself to do more than the minimum if elected should not be a platform to stand on. Quality law enforcement services have always been, and should continue to be, the efforts of the leadership with our agency. My heart is to serve and protect and as I have had overwhelming support over the years, my hope is you will put trust in me for this important role to continue to take care of our team, other first responder agencies, and our citizens.
In my over eighteen years of law-enforcement experience, nine and a half years as a paid firefighter, six years in the military as a healthcare sergeant providing medical service to soldiers, several years of operating successful businesses, and serving as a council member at a church in our community, I have tried to make the most out of every experience to better the ones I was protecting and serving, while learning the valuable skills expected as a leader.
During this time, I have tried to go over and beyond to serve the citizens and that’s why I’m here, to be a public servant for this community that puts our “community first” and protects the “constitution always”. This is what Rush County needs, a Sheriff that knows how to work a call, has a proven track record for criminal investigations; a Sheriff that will be boots on the ground and help the deputies and citizens when they need it, but at the same time can lead, be approachable and engage with the community needs effectively, while also working with commissioners and taking care of the budget.
I want the deputies and dispatchers to continue to grow as future leaders in our community to serve the citizens properly, making the crisis they may be going through better. I want the team to be part of the community, not just in times of a crisis, but times of fun when we celebrate and continue our community policing efforts with the citizens and our children. I want our deputies to have pride when they put their uniform on. I want the citizens to have pride in their sheriff’s office, I want to be part of this community. I love this county and the people in it.
My wife, kids, and I did not move to Rush County for me to be in law-enforcement. I am in law-enforcement here because we chose to live in Rush County. It’s getting harder to find a place where most of the community has common sense and supports their local law enforcement. This is what we found in this community, which is why we decided to move here.
I am willing to step up in the role as Sheriff and be a public servant and leader for the people to protect what I love. Even during stressful times, I will not give up, I will not quit, I will not go elsewhere until I am told I must or until it’s time to retire. When you care about something you will fight to protect it and that is what I’m willing to do, whether this means in a traditional sense of law-enforcement or by our community policing efforts to provide services for our community that many agencies have stopped providing long ago. Many people have heard me tell them over the years that this is my ministry, and this has not changed. I’m ready to be a voice for our citizens and will always try to be available.
If anyone has questions, please stop and talk to me. I encourage you to consider me and write my name on the ballot as who you would like to be your next Sheriff. I have confidence in our community and I hope I’ve earned your confidence over the years to add me as your write-in choice for Sheriff during the upcoming General Election. I’m Mark Knowles and I’m running as a write-in candidate for Sheriff of Rush County and would love to earn your vote. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mark Knowles
