[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 197 (Thursday, November 30, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1147-E1148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING COTATI POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL PARISH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 30, 2023

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
retirement of Police Chief Michael Parish and his 37 years of service 
with local law enforcement throughout the state of California, 
including nearly 13 years as police chief for the city of Cotati.

[[Page E1148]]

  Chief Parish graduated from California State University Stanislaus 
with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and then attended graduate 
school at California State University, Long Beach, earning a Master of 
Science Degree in Emergency Services Administration. From there, he 
graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy 
and went on to serve in the California Army National Guard 1st 184th 
Infantry (Air Assault) Division.
  Chief Parish began his career in law enforcement at the Merced County 
Sheriffs Department, serving as a deputy sheriff for 19 years, before 
leaving as a sergeant. While at the Merced County Sheriff's Department, 
Chief Parish was the tactical commander of the Regional S.W.A.T. and 
the coordinator of the Sheriffs Department Citizen Search and Rescue 
Team. Chief Parish then moved to the University of California (UC), 
Merced, where he was second in command as a lieutenant with the UC 
Merced Police Department. Over the course of five years, Chief Parish 
was instrumental in building up the new police department with an 
emphasis on creating connections with his community.
  Chief Parish had an illustrious career in Sonoma County, becoming one 
of the longest serving police chiefs in the state of California. In 
2010, he began to serve as the police chief For the city of Cotati. As 
Chief, he paved the way in California with innovations in modern 
policing. Chief Parish led the first department in Sonoma County to 
fully deploy body worn cameras on all officers, worked to support 
regional response to wildfires in Sonoma County, and served on the 
Sonoma County Public Safety Consortium to promote unified police and 
fire dispatch. In addition, Chief Parish helped the Cotati Police 
Department in the transition to become one of the first police 
departments in California to deploy fully upfitted electric patrol 
cars.
  When he was not busy on the job, Chief Parish developed a passion for 
collecting antique road signs and is a loyal Raider football fan. The 
Chief can now finish fixing up his 1953 Studebaker truck and spend more 
time with his beloved wife Laura, and his two daughters, Chloe and 
Kennedy.
  Mr. Speaker, we thank Chief Michael Parish for his selfless service 
and commitment to the people of Cotati and Sonoma County. His efforts 
have made Cotati a more dynamic, safe, and prosperous city. It is 
therefore fitting and proper that we honor him here today.

                          ____________________