[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 21]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28185]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF THE RETIREMENT OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY POLICE DIRECTOR ROBERT 
                                 PARKER

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 18, 2009

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
retirement of Police Director Robert Parker from the Miami-Dade County 
Police Department.
  Director Parker has 33 years of distinguished service for the eighth 
largest police department in the country and for the last five years 
Mr. Parker has served as Director of the force, overseeing more than 
4,700 dedicated sworn and non-sworn personnel.
  Director Parker joined the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1976 where 
he was quickly promoted through all the civil service ranks. He has 
diverse experience in police management and operations, including posts 
as Assistant Director of Police Services, Division Chief of the North 
Operations Division and the Special Investigations Division, and Police 
Bureau Commander. In 2004, he made history when he was appointed as the 
first African American Director of Police for Miami-Dade County.
  Known as a gifted leader in his community and in the Department, 
Director Parker was appointed by the Governor of Florida to serve as 
Co-Chair of the Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force. He 
also served as President of the Dade County Association of Chiefs of 
Police from 2006-2007, presiding over more than 35 municipal police 
departments as well as other state and federal law enforcement member 
agencies.
  With Director Parker at the helm, the Department became known 
nationally as a leader in law enforcement. The Miami-Dade County Police 
Department holds accreditation from two agencies, the Commission of 
Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), and the Commission 
for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA), documenting its 
commitment to the highest level of service.
  I am proud today to honor Director Parker's distinguished career and 
leadership in the South Florida community and wish him and his family 
well on their future endeavors.

                          ____________________