John Willoughby
reporter2@greenepublishing.com
After retiring from the Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO), Det./Sgt. Mark Joost is back in investigations with another law enforcement agency – the Madison Police Department (MPD).
Joost, affectionately known as "robocop," began his career in public safety 10 years after initially joining the United States Army at the age of 17. The first three years in the service were spent as a Military Policeman and Military Police Investigator. Joost then reenlisted to attend 11 weeks of infantry training, followed by airborne school and ranger school. After which, Joost took part in an assignment with the 1st Ranger Battalion, based out of Hunter Army Airfield at Ft. Stewart, in Savannah, Ga.
In 1985, Joost became an honor graduate of the United States Marine Corps' eight week scout/sniper school. Joost then helped start a scout/sniper school for the Army and spent his remaining three years in the Army as a Pre-Ranger and scout/sniper instructor. Joost was honorably discharged from the military in 1988.
After returning to Madison County, Joost spent a year and a half working with the Florida Department of Corrections before taking a full-time position with the MCSO. Joost's first three years were spent as a K-9 road deputy. The next 23 years of his service with MCSO were served as a narcotics and criminal investigator.
As chief investigator, Joost started the original S.W.A.T. Team for MCSO in 2006 and served as Commander. In a 2016 article, Joost said the goal was "to increase officer safety while taking violent armed predators into custody."
Joost retired from MCSO in 2016 and became certified in tower climbing, tower rescue and rope access while employed by Avenger Engineering, of Roswell, Ga. Joost has also worked as an armed protection personnel for Florida's House of Representatives while in session.
After having worked for the MPD in 1989, Joost returned to the City of Madison's force in December of 2017 as a part-time patrolman. Less than one year later, Joost became a full-time officer and was later promoted to investigations in 2019. He current serves as a Detective/Sergeant for MPD.
In a biography, Joost stated that as he has grown spiritually and the most important things are his relationships with family, friends, strangers and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. "Although my adrenaline junkie pursuits are varied, law enforcement is in my blood. I enjoy hunting down fugitives; standing in the gap for those who are bullied and abused; and serving and protecting the community I love and call home," said Joost.