Mount Olive Police Lieutenant Mark Carlstrom Says Farewell After 25 Years of Service

Mount Olive Police Department Lieutenant, Mark Carlstrom, has retired after 25 years on the force.

Carlstrom's last day was Friday, December 16, 2022, and he was honored with a luncheon and a staff gathering outside the department’s building entrance as bagpipes played.

"It's been great," Carlstrom says of his career. “I’m proud to have served in Mount Olive. It’s been a great career with a great department in a great town.”

Carlstrom comes from a long line of first responders. Both his great grandfather and brother were detectives with the New York City Police Department, his uncle served with the New York City Fire Department, and his 85-year-old dad is a life member of the Flanders Fire Department. Also, Carlstrom's middle son, Brian, has entered the Morris County Police Academy. “I couldn’t be prouder,” Carlstrom says. “I have three boys, and they're awesome, but my middle one always from day one, even in his first or second grade yearbook, wrote that he wanted to be a police officer. He went to the Kiddie Academy through the sheriff's department, always came and helped me with our National Night Out, so this was always for him.”

 Carlstrom and his wife of 30 years, Annika, have three sons, Stephen, Brian, and Christopher.

Carlstrom hails from New York City, and he and his family moved to the Clover Hill area of Mount Olive when he was three years old. He graduated from Mount Olive High School in 1986, and his next stop was County College of Morris, where the Humanities major graduated with honors, and then he attended Glassboro (now Rowan) University, where he received a degree in Communications, again graduating with honors.

Prior to becoming a police officer, Carlstrom worked various jobs which he didn’t enjoy, and after his brother became a member of the NYPD, his interest was piqued. Carlstrom recalls, “I'll never forget what my wife had said to me one day. I was just not happy in corporate America, and we already had a small starter house in Landing. She said, ‘Listen, you’ve got to do what's going to make you happy. We'll just stay in the house, and we'll figure it out.’ And that's what we did. And now here I am, 25 years later. I couldn't be happier.”

A recruit in 1997, Carlstrom took his Oath of Office on January 1, 1998. On February 2 of that same year, he entered Morris County Police Academy, and graduated on June 12, 1998. Following graduation, Carlstrom was assigned to the Patrol Division, and his first shift was Wednesday evening, June 17. He was released to lone patrol duties on Tuesday, September 15, 1998. After 14 years as a patrol officer, he was promoted to Sergeant on September 15, 2012, and he remained with the Patrol Division while being assigned supervision of a Patrol Squad. He eventually was promoted to Lieutenant and was also assigned as Commander of the Patrol Division.

Mount Olive Township Chief of Police, Stephen Beecher, lauds Carlstrom’s career. “Over the course of his twenty-five years on the Mount Olive Police Department, Lt. Carlstrom climbed the ranks due to steady consistent performance and effort. He has been an invaluable member of my staff.”

Although he will take some time out now to travel with his wife and family, Carlstrom will continue living in Mount Olive, where he has served the community with loyalty. “I’m not planning right now on going anywhere.”