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  • Maj. Mark Hudson takes a break from cleaning his office out at the Muskogee Police Department. Hudson, a 32-year veteran, retired Dec. 31. Staff photo by Dylan Goforth

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  • Mark and Loretta Hudson sit at a table during a party for Mark’s retirement Friday. Mark, a 32-year veteran of the Muskogee Police Department, met Loretta in 1979. They married in 1982. Staff photo by Elizabeth Ridenour

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January 1, 2012

Police major retires after 32 years

Lawman started with Muskogee PD in ‘79

By Dylan Goforth Phoenix Staff Writer

— Muskogee Police Department Maj. Mark Hudson has been through 32 years, four promotions and four chiefs in his time with the force.

When Hudson’s career began, he was a 23-year-old rookie fresh out of college.

“Being a rookie patrolman in 1979, things were a lot different than they are now,” Hudson said. “Every desk back then had an ash tray on it. And our cars, well, as a rookie patrolman, you got the worst car. It was just junk, and it was used 24/7.”

After graduating from Northeastern State University, Hudson applied to both the police department and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. He chose the police department because going with the OHP would have meant waiting six months to start working.

“(OHP) wasn’t going to have a class for six months,” Hudson said. “And I was ready to get started.”

Hudson, who retired at the end of 2011, is eager to get to the next chapter of his life.

“There are definitely things I’m looking forward to,” Hudson said. With a glance around his office, it doesn’t take much to guess what those things are.

Behind his desk are pictures of sailboats, and photographs of dolphins adorn his walls. Framed pictures of Hudson and his wife scuba diving can be seen all around his office.

It’s a very waterlogged office.

“I was born in California and raised in Florida,” Hudson said. “We moved to Henryetta when I was in high school.”

Hudson said he doesn’t have a particular spot he and his wife, Loretta, are set to go to now that his office is empty. But it’s safe to imagine there will be water involved.

“I’ve traveled so many places,” Hudson said. “If you asked me to sit down and give you a list, I couldn’t do it.”

 Hudson met his wife at work, and they were married in 1982. She began working at the department in 1979, and retired in 2004.

“She was the first woman to retire from the MPD,” Hudson said.

With all their newfound free time, the Hudsons have plenty of options. But, first in their plans is a meeting with their first grandchild — who is due this month.

“We’re very excited,” Hudson said. “(Benjamin) and his wife live right next door to us.”

Pictures of Hudson’s sons, Benjamin, 26, and Jacob, 23, sit side-by-side in Hudson’s office. They might be the only images in the office that don’t have anything to do with the ocean.

Both sons have served in the Air Force. Benjamin did three tours in Iraq and now majors in law enforcement at NSU. Jacob joined straight out of high school and is on the east coast waiting for deployment.

“They make me very proud,” Hudson said.

Maj. Reggie Cotton, who has worked with Hudson for “almost 19 years,” has spent the last two years in an adjoining office.

“I’ve enjoyed working with him,” Cotton said. “It’s bittersweet, you know. I’m happy for him, but at the same time, you hate to see him go because he’s a great guy.”

Capt. David Davenport has similar mixed feelings.

“He’s a good guy with years of experience,” Davenport said. “Having him here has certainly helped a lot of people, with as much as he knows. As far as the retirement, it’s well-deserved.”

Reach Dylan Goforth at (918) 684-2903 or dgoforth@muskogeephoenix.com.

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