The Director of Public Safety is appointed by the Mayor. This office operates under the authority granted it by the Office of the Mayor and the Cambridge City Council, and is governed by the laws of the State of Ohio and the City of Cambridge. The primary goal of this office is to serve the public interest and the residents of the City of Cambridge to the best of its ability.
The major duties of the Director of Public Safety include, but are not limited to: planning and administering public safety activities of the city, personnel and fiscal management as well as strategic leadership for the Cambridge Police, Fire and Code Enforcement Departments, focuses on city, state, and federal policy and legislation in the areas of law enforcement, fire, code enforcement and citywide emergency management, develops policy and directs and coordinates human resource activities related to the departments overseen.
Mark Baker was appointed as the Director of Public Safety on January 14, 2024. He began his career with the City of Cambridge as a volunteer Auxiliary Officer on December 31, 1991. He was hired as a full-time Dispatcher in 1994 and transferred to the patrol division in 1996. He served the citizens of Cambridge in a full-time capacity until his retirement as Police Captain in 2020.
During his time with the Cambridge Police Department, he served as a Firearms Instructor and SWAT Officer. He held the office of Vice President of the Ohio Tactical Officers Association and has instructed over 1000 area civilians in basic pistol shooting and Concealed Carry. He has owned and operated Buckeye Guard Service for 27 years and has an extensive background in security and safety.
Mark is a graduate of Cambridge High School and studied Criminal Justice at MATC.
He resides in Guernsey County with his wife, Melinda. They have two children and four grandchildren.
