KITSAP — Lt. Mark R. Rufener has been selected for appointment to the grade of chief of division within the sheriff’s office.

Rufener will lead the corrections division and command the Kitsap County Jail as chief of corrections upon the retirement of Chief Ned Newlin at the end of the year.

The sheriff’s corrections division comprises 91 officers, sergeants and lieutenants who are certified by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission as corrections officer professionals; 12-15 civilian contract specialists providing inmate healthcare services in the jail’s medical section; seven county employees working in support services roles; and three civilians who supervise inmate food service preparation under contract.

The Kitsap County Jail is the regional correctional facility serving the criminal justice community within the greater Kitsap Peninsula. Located on the courthouse campus in Port Orchard, the jail’s physical plant includes more than 100,000 square feet of work and living space, spanning two floors with a 491-bed capacity for inmate housing.

The jail population consists of sentenced prisoners and pre-trial detainees for the county, the cities and the tribal communities, as well as the Washington State Department of Corrections.

Rufener began his service with Kitsap County in 1994 as a lateral transfer officer, following five years as an officer with the Tacoma Police Department.

Rufener has served as a patrol deputy, shift sergeant, support services sergeant, acting support services supervisor and acting division lieutenant.

He holds collateral duty assignments as a sheriff’s search and rescue coordinator and supervisor, firearms range safety officer and peer support officer.