Dothan City Manager - Mayor and Commissioner Recognized Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Feb 02 2021 1:34 PM

DOTHAN:    This morning Dothan City Manager Kevin Cowper, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and members of the Dothan Commissioners recognized Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish.

Chief Parrish is set to retire from Dothan Police Department on March 1, 2021. He has served six years as Police Chief, a total of 36 years, two months and 7 days with Dothan Police Department.

Chief Parrish started at age 22 with the Police Department. His tenure began as a Jail Security Officer. Later Parrish was promoted to Police Officer.

From the beginning, Steve Parrish rose through the ranks of Patrolman, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major and now Chief of Police.

Parrish will turn 59 in March. As of now he has no plans other than take life easy. Parrish will be going from a life of always having the phone close by, subject to immediate call and response, to being able to walk outside without his cell phone. Being able to leave his phone at home while going to the grocery store.

During his 37 years he was always "connected" to being to be called to now he will be able to be "disconnected" and having peace in his life.

Under the Steve Parrish command, Dothan Police Department has made many accomplishments. One is the Dothan Police Foundation. This foundation is able to make things happen which ordinarily they could not. The foundation provides opportunities for education, training and other areas of public service/

Chief Parrish in partnership with Dothan Fire Chief Larry Williams, in partnership with Wiregrass Foundation, discussed, designed and constructed a training center that is absolutely fantastic. Being able to train emergency responders to be prepared for the emergencies which have not happened yet.

Chief Parrish, who is also the current Chairman of the City of Dothan-Houston County Communications District, was part of bringing one of the most modern 911 facilities in the state to Dothan. 

Chief Parrish implemented Dothan Police Facebook, Twitter and web site to bring information to the public.

One of the projects that Chief Parrish, combined with others brought was Southern Software. A integrated program with 911 through records management for one seamless system in the management of records. 

To give an example of the volume of calls, just one month of 2020, Dothan Police Department was dispatched to over 13,000 calls by the 911 Center. A large amount of records to be managed on that many calls in just one month. At that volume a month, is 156,000 calls dispatched to Dothan Police in one year.

Under Chief Parrish leadership the Wiregrass Pet Rescue and Adoption Center was formed. A entity to raise money to build a new and modern pet center. Chief Parrish, through the City of Dothan, purchased land on Hartford Highway for a new pet center.

Chief Parrish leadership started NO SHAVE NOVEMBER. Allowing officers to have beards. Through that program, in five years, Dothan Police Department has raised more than $ 130,800.00 for Children of Alabama.

Chief Parrish will remain as Chief until March 1. The Dothan Mayor and Commission hired Dothan Police Major Will Benny as Chief of Police who will take the reigns on March 1. The two will work together to make a smooth transition.

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