• Mark Koeppe talks to those in attendance at a retirement event on Nov. 30. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Police Chief Ken Rueben swears in Mark Koeppe as a reserve officer. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Among the photos included in a slideshow showed Koeppe with an eye swollen shut. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Mark Koeppe laughs after reading a card. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Police Chief Ken Rueben gives Mark Koeppe the League of Oregon Cities plaque that he won in 2019. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • While retiring police officer Mark Koeppe takes a deep breath, Chief Ken Rueben hands over a “Mark Koeppe with hair” photo to his wife, Charla, during Wednesday’s retirement party fun. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Police Chief Ken Rueben gives retiring officer Mark Koeppe an antique handgun as a retirement gift during Wednesday’s event. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Police Chief Ken Rueben reads excerpts from a League of Oregon Cities write-up that was part of a 2019 award presentation. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Mark Koeppe admires a collectible police car that he received as a retirement gift. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • City employees, family and friends listen to City Manager Chris Workman talk about Mark Koeppe’s career with the police department. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Public Works Director Garry Black presented Mark Koeppe with a wooden American flag for a retirement gift. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Mark Koeppe said the Colt 1911 pistol presented to him as a retirement gift was a firearm that he had always wanted. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • City Manager Chris Workman hands Mark Koeppe his police firearm. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • City Manager Chris Workman talks about Mark Koeppe’s service with the Philomath Police Department. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Retiring police officer Mark Koeppe shares a story during his retirement event on Nov. 30. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Police Chief Ken Rueben and retiring officer Mark Koeppe share a laugh. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Mark Koeppe seemed to enjoy the wrapping paper that was part of a gift presented to him by Public Works Director Garry Black. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • Among the gifts received — a Kansas City Chiefs shirt. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)
  • City Councilor Ruth Causey presents retiring officer Mark Koeppe with a plaque in recognition of his 28 years of service with the police department. (Photo by Brad Fuqua/Philomath News)

Brad Fuqua has covered the Philomath area since 2014 as the editor of the now-closed Philomath Express and currently as publisher/editor of the Philomath News. He has worked as a professional journalist since 1988 at daily and weekly newspapers in Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, Arizona, Montana and Oregon.