First Sergeant Mark A. Carunchia

FORT WAYNE — The Indiana State Police is announcing the retirement of First Sergeant Mark A. Carunchia, District Investigative Coordinator of the Fort Wayne Post, whose career with the Department has spanned the last 36 years.

Carunchia, a DeKalb County resident, was appointed as a Trooper in Aug. 19, 1979 as a graduate of the 37th Indiana State Police Recruit Academy. His first assignment was at the Ligonier Post where he worked road patrol duties in DeKalb County. In the early 1980’s when the Ligonier Post closed, Carunchia was transferred to the Fort Wayne Post where he continued his patrol duties in DeKalb County.

Carunchia was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Division as a Detective in 1988 and in 1993, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served as the first-line supervisor for the Detectives assigned to the Fort Wayne Post. In 1999, he was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant and served as the District Investigative Coordinator. He oversaw the day-to-day operations of the investigative staff in Fort Wayne, and held that position until his retirement.

During his career, Carunchia has served as a technical crash investigator, a member of the Tactical Intervention Platoon, a school bus inspector and he is a member of the Department’s “Possible Club” for firearms proficiency. He has attended numerous investigative schools and has worked alongside a multitude of law enforcement agencies not only from Indiana, but from both around the United States and around the world.

“I have been extremely fortunate to have had a number of experienced mentors, all of whom have helped me throughout my career,” said Carunchia. “We worked very hard to make good cases, put the bad guys in jail and all while doing it the right way.”