[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 2 (Thursday, January 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E24]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SALUTING FIRST LIEUTENANT JOHN P. PARKER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES A. BARCIA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 24, 2002

  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to First 
Lieutenant John P. Parker upon his retirement as Commander of the Bay 
City Post of the Michigan State Police. John's exemplary work ethic and 
can-do attitude have served as standards of optimism, hard work and 
determination for his fellow officers, friends, neighbors and all who 
have come into contact with him during his 27-year career with the 
Michigan State Police and his more than eight years in charge of the 
Bay City post.
  As a law enforcement officer, devoted father and contributor to our 
community, John has always impressed others with his lead-by-example 
approach to any venture he has undertaken. A Lansing native, John began 
his law enforcement career in 1974 as a radio dispatcher in the Jackson 
post. After graduating from the police academy in 1977, John served 
briefly with the Bad Axe post as a trooper before being assigned to the 
Detroit Freeway post. He later worked in Lansing and Brighton. In 1992, 
John earned a promotion to First Lieutenant and took command of the 
Sandusky Post, where he served for a year until his transfer to Bay 
City.
  When John took command of the Bay City post, he had his work cut out 
for him to restore morale and train a professional core of new troopers 
to bring the post up to full strength. John modestly credits the sworn 
officers and civilian staff who have worked for him with rebuilding the 
post, but he deserves praise for leading the effort. Today, John and 
those under his command can point proudly to having transformed the Bay 
City post into one of the more widely respected posts in the state. 
John's strong sense of duty and superior managerial skills clearly 
sparked the engine that has driven the Bay City Post to be ranked among 
the best in the state.
  Never one to sit on the sidelines, John also found time to devote to 
civic, religious and fraternal organizations to serve our community and 
his fellow citizens. His participation in these organizations, which 
include the Board of Director of the Bay County Crime Stoppers, the 
Tri-County Adjudication Program Board of Directors and Knights of 
Columbus Council 4232, have made a real difference and he should be 
commended for his involvement. John's wife, Kathy, and his four sons, 
John, Scott, Chris and Michael, also deserve high praise for their 
unselfish support of John in his career goals and his volunteer work.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing 
gratitude to First Lieutenant John P. Parker for his distinguished 
service and in wishing him success in all future endeavors. John will 
no longer carry a badge, but I am confident that the honor and 
integrity he displayed during his tenure with the Michigan State Police 
will continue to serve as evidence that he exemplifies the very best 
values of the men and women in law enforcement.

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