West Richland Police Chief Mark Panther is the 2004-2005 CBC
Outstanding Alumnus.
Panther received his Associate in Arts degree in Criminal Justice from CBC in
1979 and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Justice from Central Washington
University in 1982.
In addition to his 30 years of law enforcement service to the community,
Panther has been a community leader in other areas. As a Rotary Club member,
Panther has chaired the Tri-Citian of the Year committee, organized the first Red
Cross Heroes Breakfast, and has served on the board of directors of both the
United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties and the Bi-County Success by Six
committee. Mark has also aided nearly a dozen other non-profit community
organizations. He has served for 22 years in the Tri-Cities Sports Officials
Association.
Professionally, Panther was a captain for the Richland police department for 15
years and has been the police chief of West Richland for the last five years. He
organized the highly effective Bi-county Drug Task Force.
Panther was honored in a ceremony at CBC Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004.
(Original article published 9/18/2004 pg. B2 - reprinted with Tri-City
Herald permission)