[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E145-E146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF RICHARD WAYNE PARKS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 2020

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments of a great North Carolinian, public servant, role model 
and recipient of the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 
Distinguished Citizen Award, Mr. Richard Wayne Parks.
  Mr. Parks' deep dedication to service and community protection led 
him to spend over 30 years in the law enforcement field in Rocky Mount, 
North Carolina. His experience includes extensive expertise through his 
work with the Rocky Mount Police Department, Nash County Sheriffs 
Office, Rocky Mount Police Department and the Supreme Court of North 
Carolina Marshals Offices.
  Richard Parks experience also includes a wide range of training and 
education with institutions such as the Coastal Plains Law Enforcement 
Academy, Police Law Institute (PLI) and the FBI-Law Enforcement 
Executive Development Association. He has also taken a Management 
Course for Law Enforcement Executives and was awarded the Intermediate 
Law Enforcement Certificate and the Advanced Law Enforcement 
Certificate.
  Mr. Parks demonstrated strong leadership skills through his state-
level law enforcement program participation which includes involvement 
between 2006 and 2010 with the NC FOP State Executive Board and the NC 
FOC State Legislative Committee and also his involvement with the North 
State Law Enforcement Officers Association, NC Peace Officers Memorial 
Day Steering Committee and the NC Police Executive's Associations; all 
of which he serves as a current participant.
  Rocky Mount, Nash County, Edgecombe County and the State of North 
Carolina have all benefited from Mr. Parks' advancement as a law 
enforcement professional, and also from his selfless commitment to 
community service. He has a remarkable track-record of service 
participation through his current membership with the North Carolina 
Fraternal Order of Police, North Carolina Peace Officers Memorial Day 
Ceremony Steering Committee, Jim Dickens First Responders Appreciation 
Day Committee, NC Governor's Task Force on Safer Schools, North 
Carolina Police Executive's Association, Nash County Farmers Market 
Advisory Board and the Westridge Swim Club Board of Directors. As 
referred to by many of his colleagues; ``Ricky'' also serves as a 
member of the North State Law Enforcement Officers Association. As the 
only law enforcement association that minority officers could join when 
it was formed in 1952, Ricky Parks' enlisted in the Association to 
demonstrate that the inclusion of all people, regardless of race or 
gender and in all levels of law enforcement would lead to better and 
more productive law enforcement in all of the local communities across 
the State.
  With a long and strong history of local and state professional law 
enforcement experience, Richard Wayne Parks has earned the deep respect 
of his law enforcement colleagues. He is greatly admired for his 
leadership and work as a law enforcement professional, his experience 
and expertise and his efforts to promote unity among law enforcement 
officers regardless of the branch of service. His efforts have 
surpassed law enforcement support through his work to serve the needs 
of domestic abuse victims, those in need of substance abuse treatment, 
care for the homeless and numerous other community education and family 
care needs.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize the remarkable 
achievements of one of North Carolina's own, Mr. Richard Wayne Parks 
and I congratulate him on being the recipient of the Rocky Mount Area 
Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen Award.

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