Mark Tozer, born and raised in San Francisco, remained in the Bay Area after attending UC. Berkeley in 1992. Mark immediately began his professional career after college at Apple Inc. and recently celebrated his 31st year with the tech giant.

While technology was a booming industry in the early 90’s, Mark had always been interested in law enforcement. Initially considering federal law enforcement as a career change, he was guided to the Reserve program by his brother who was a San Jose Police Officer at the time. The Reserve program offered Mark the best of both worlds - maintaining a growing career within the tech industry but also the opportunity to participate in serving the San Francisco community as a police officer. This year will be Mark’s 28th year with the department.

As a Reserve Officer, Mark has enjoyed a diverse range of experiences ranging from patrol officer, member of the Marine unit, and leading the Reserve unit as the platoon leader.

Alongside his dual professional careers, Mark finds time to enjoy his hobbies which include scuba diving, riding his Harley and aspires to get his private pilot’s license someday. Mark is also proud of helping raise two children who are now in college. One is at the University of San Diego and is in the ROTC Army program and the other is a Midshipman at the US Naval Academy.

Over the past few years, law enforcement in communities large and small have faced, in some cases, existential pressures and in others, recruitment and attrition challenges. Reserve Officers continue to be a backstop for certain departments but with increased risks and liabilities, the appeal has begun to lose its luster. Mark believes that more now than ever, departments across the state have the opportunity to evolve how Reserves are utilized.

Communities have voiced their desire to engage with law enforcement beyond the emergency response encounters. Reserve Officers have the unique role of having one foot in law enforcement and the other as a member of the community. A dentist, an electrician, a lawyer, or a commercial pilot are just some of the professions that bring different skills and even perspective to the position of a Reserve Officer.

As a member of the CRPOA board, Mark determined to highlight the untapped resource departments have with Reserve Officers. Mark hopes to work with Police Chiefs and command staff notably in his own department as well as across the state promoting innovative ways to elevate the position of the Reserve Officer. The hope is that current and prospective Reserve Officers once again feel valued and motivated to continue to serve and protect their communities.