Since 1984, Mark Martinez has climbed the law enforcement ladder in Omaha.
He has risen from street officer to sergeant, lieutenant, captain and then to deputy chief, where he became the first Latino to reach that level in the Omaha Police Department.
Friday, Martinez took another step forward. He was sworn in as the 40th U.S. marshal for the District of Nebraska.
Accompanied by state and local dignitaries — including the man who recommended him to President Barack Obama, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb. — Martinez said he was grateful for the opportunity and looks forward to continuing his “love affair” with public service and police work.
Martinez, who resigned a seat on the Omaha school board to accept the federal post, said he plans to serve Nebraskans in a professional manner. He didn’t give specific details about his plans.
During a ceremony at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Courthouse, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle gave Martinez a key to the city and thanked him for his service. Martinez has worked on Suttle’s security detail since retiring from the Police Department in March 2009.
Martinez, 50, is a native Omahan who graduated from South High School and later the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he earned two degrees in criminal justice.
Contact the writer:
444-1414, ross.boettcher@owh.com
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