News

After 48 years of law enforcement service, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) Chief of Police, Tom Robertson, has retired. NEO welcomes his successor, Mark Wall, former NEO detective, evening and night supervisor and emergency management director. Much of Wall’s life has been devoted to serving local communities through law enforcement.

His extensive career began as a 17-year-old volunteer for the Ottawa County Sheriff Department. It was there that he discovered his passion for the police force. After graduating from Miami High School in 1978 and NEO in 1980, Wall went on to graduate from the Oklahoma Police Academy – Broken Arrow and receive certification through the Oklahoma Police Instructor School.

In addition to his service as an officer, Wall has held several community leadership positions where he created programs to improve communal safety. As Chief of Police in Grove, Oklahoma, he started the citizen police academy, youth police academy, neighborhood watch program and various other community policing programs.

He also served as Mayor of Jay, Oklahoma where he remained loyal to law enforcement as a police reserve during his term. He served as the first Captain of the Tulsa Public Schools Campus Police. Additional awards and recognitions include: • Certificate of Commendation from the Grove American Legion • President, Grove Fraternal order of Police (five years) • Advanced Law Enforcement Certification, Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement and Training • Advanced Nationally Certified School Resource Officer

Wall and his wife Dianna of 34 years have two children Beth and BJ, and two grandchildren, Jackson and Ruthie Mae. He has served over 25 years as a church deacon and was awarded the Outstanding Service to Community Award by Grove Assembly of God Church. “I look forward to furthering my career at NEO and continuing to serve the community through law enforcement,” Wall said.