To look at Mark Sirois or watch how he carries himself, one might think he has a military background. He’s “squared away,” so to speak.
But the discipline Sirois displays daily has nothing to do with any armed forces drill sergeant. He credits it to the “law and grace” upbringing he had as one of six children born to Arthur and Muriel Sirois.
“He was the law and she was the grace,” Sirois said last week, just two days into his new position as chief of police at the Johnson City Police Department.
It was kind of a Yankee upbringing, he said, because both his parents were raised in the north. But since he’s always lived in the south, Sirois considers himself Southern through and through.
“They instilled in me discipline, a work ethic, a sense of responsibility and a need to make a contribution to society,” he said.
Until now, Sirois was always able to share his good fortune at work with his whole family, but not this promotion. Sirois’ father passed away just a month ago, and there was little time to call all five of his brothers and sisters about the announcement Wednesday afternoon.
Still, Sirois’ mother and one brother were able to attend, he said.
By the time he put on his first JCPD uniform, Sirois was 35 years old and never imagined he would be the head of the department one day. Instead, after working as a patrol officer for a couple of years, Sirois set his sights on becoming a sergeant.
“I thought if I became sergeant, I’d be doing all right,” he said Friday while sitting at his new desk – well, new to him at least.
Sergeant? Yes, he made sergeant. And lieutenant. And captain. And major. Truth be told, it’s about the only path there is to become chief of a department.
And each step up in rank was a new training ground, he said. Now, almost 21 years later, Sirois is on the top training ground, and he’s not afraid to admit he still has things to learn.
“I’m a lifelong learner,” and loves to read, particularly historical works, he said.
And he’s apparently not afraid of change, either. Before becoming a police officer Sirois had another career and a half. His full-time work prior to law enforcement was as a graphic artist, and he still employs his skills at drawing as his mental get-away.
“I don’t paint very much anymore, but I draw,” he said.
His “half” career, so to speak, was as an ordained Baptist minister. He only worked that job part-time, but served two different congregations in the field. Sirois’ faith is obvious without him saying a word about it. He’s just that kind of guy.
“I haven’t preached in a long time.”
Sirois was born in Greenville, N.C., and his family lived in several North Carolina communities before moving to Johnson City in 1972. Sirois was a rising high school junior at the time and graduated from Science Hill High School.
Along the way, he met Kay, the girl he eventually married. They attended East Tennessee State University together – she majored in child social work, and later earned a master of arts in teaching, while Sirois pursued a bachelor of fine arts.
They married after college and within a few years, Sirois felt the calling to enter the ministry. That trek took the couple to Tulsa, Okla., where he attended a two-year Bible college and became a minister.
Over the next several years – that was the 1980s – while his wife became a schoolteacher, Sirois ministered part-time and worked full-time at a print company in town. But in the early 1990s, Sirois was pulled in another direction – law enforcement.
It was a pretty bold move and one he and his wife didn’t take lightly.
“I didn’t feel like I was contributing that much to society or my community at that time. I decided that I wanted a full-time occupation at which I thought I could make a difference and give back to my community,” Sirois said of his decision to enter law enforcement.
The career possibilities he kept coming back to revolved around emergency services, and with the encouragement of several friends at the JCPD, he applied there.
“I first discussed it with my wife, Kay, of course, and it was such a radical change in profession for me, and lifestyle for us, we spent many hours of discussion and tears, to come to terms with it. But, we did, and I had her complete support when I made my application and, 20 years later, I still do,” he said.
Sirois said giving back is why most people go into law enforcement “to help their community, give back, and make a difference, and that can be said for the men and women of our police department as well.”
He’s just that kind of guy.
His “giving back” started under Chief Ron Street, and for the last nine years he worked under Chief John Lowry. And it was Lowry who took special effort to get Sirois ready for being chief.
“He tried to expose me to as many things possible,” that he might one day have to handle in Lowry’s absence. And just like other chiefs who came before him, Sirois has goals and plans for the department.
Once Sirois was promoted to administration, the job became 24/7. And now that he’s chief, that will continue. Even when he takes off the uniform and badge, he’s still the chief of police and all the major decisions are in his hands.
And at 56 years old, it’s likely Sirois could be one of the city’s longer serving chiefs. But it’s a challenge Sirois is eager to meet each day when he puts on that uniform and the chief’s badge.
For now, walking down the halls of the department as chief feels the same as it did as major or any other rank he’s held.
“I’m humbled to be in this position,” he said
And yes, he’s just that kind of guy.