La Cygne council selects interim police chief

John Marino, interim police chief for the city of La Cygne, is congratulated by City Clerk Jodi Wade after she has sworn him into office on Friday, August. 7. (La Cygne Police Department Facebook)

By Roger Sims, Journal staff

linncountyjournal@icloud.com

LA CYGNE – John Marino has been named interim police chief for the La Cygne Police Department. The La Cygne City Council voted 3-0 at the Wednesday, August 5, council meeting to make the appointment with Councilmember Oscar Marino, John’s father, abstaining.

Officer Marino takes over from departing police chief Zachary Mathies, who resigned effective Friday, August 7. Marino joined the department 2024. The city is taking applications for the police chief position.

At the council meeting, Mathies thanked the council for its support during the two years since he took over the post. He is returning to work for the Paola Police Department, which he left to accept the La Cygne chief’s job.

In his address to the council, Mathies listed the three most significant areas whch he believed most impacted the department. He said that a comprehensive list would likely include new (used) vehicles, updated equipment, policy changes and securing grants for needs such as radios.

However, he continued, the most important things are those you can’t see: professionalism, credibility, and officer safety.

Included with professionalism is requiring officers wear the same uniforms, drive the same color vehicles with decals identifying the department. He said officers now present a consistent image of professions who carry themselves in a manner that they all could be mistaken to be the police chief.

Credibility lies in the department’s insistence on reports being completed and sent to the  county attorney’s office in a timely manner. He also said that respecting other agencies was important, but also respecting detainees as well.

“During my tenure, we have not had a probable cause affidavit rejected, a suspect released because of an affidavit error, and have not had a case dismissed because an officer failed to appear for court,” Mathies said. “Those don’t make headlines. They’re simply the result of doing the small things right, every day.”

Officer safety has also been one of his main concerns. He said when he started in June 2024, the ballistic panel on a protective vest had an expiration date of March 1999.

“The manufacturer recommended replacing it after five years,” he explained, adding that the officer was born in 2001.

Within two weeks that panel was removed from service, he said, adding that he didn’t know how many officers had been wearing that prior to its removal.

“Professionalism, accountability, and commitment to officer safety are standards that can continue long after any one chief is gone,” Mathies said. “The citizens of La Cygne deserve a police department that continually strives for excellence, and I sincerely hope that those standards continue to be built upon for years to come. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve the community.”