CHESHIRE COUNTY, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Local police departments across Cheshire County and the Monadnock Region are honoring the life of Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Chamberlain after he battled a terminal illness. Chamberlain died Sunday at home with family by his side.

Chamberlain began his career with the Marlborough Police Department in 1993, and eventually moved to the Swanzey Police Department, which he retired from in 2019.

“When he asked me if I had an opening, as he was considering retiring from Swanzey in 2019, I knew without a doubt I had to have [Chamberlain] with us,” Cheshire County Sheriff Eli Rivera said. “His experience, reputation, knowledge and career were unquestionable.  He was a hard worker.”

Recently, multiple different police departments from across Cheshire County took part in a blue wave  of support, with an estimated 75-100 cruisers taking part, driving from Optical Avenue in Keene through Marlborough, past Chamberlain’s residence.

The Marlborough Police Department, Chamberlain’s first stop in law enforcement, honored his impact on the town of Marlborough and the department, saying on Facebook that “[Chamberlain] helped countless people through the years and was a positive influence on our communities and our profession.”

Chamberlain spent the majority of his career with the Swanzey Police Department, where he spent time as a K-9 handler, corporal, and sergeant, before being promoted to Lieutenant in 2012, a position he held until his retirement from the station in 2019. In a post on Facebook, the SPD said “…We want to thank [Chamberlain] for his dedication and service to the town of Swanzey.”

Rivera recalls that Chamberlain was so proud of his son for following in his footsteps, as he became an officer with the Keene Police Department. He remembers giving Chamberlain grief that his son didn’t join the Sheriff’s Department, to which Chamberlain said “You can’t handle two of us.”

“His absence has already been felt at the Sheriff’s office,” Rivera said.