Remembering Jack Parrish

ALACHUA – John “Jack” Parrish, once a member of the Alachua Police Department, is now a name that will exist in the hearts of many Alachua officers as a reminder of what it means to be a leader.

Parrish became the first Chief of Police for the Alachua Police Department in 1976 after he left the Florida Highway Patrol. From there, he changed a community by instilling a moral and professional code that would resonate for the next 37 years, according to friends and family.

Current Chief of Police, Joel DeCoursey, Jr., saw Parrish as a mentor. In DeCoursey’s office, in a chair pulled away from a table, sits Parrish’s picture, acting as a commemorative piece.

DeCoursey recalled Parrish as a gentle giant and a protector for the people who couldn’t protect themselves. His legacy as a protector, he said, will last for years to come.

While DeCoursey never actually worked with Parrish, he had a strong relationship with him. So strong that he was able to consult him when tough situations arose.

“He was a resource for the community,” he said. “If something was going on that I needed to know about, he would inform me. If there was something he could help me with, he would tap into his resources or his knowledge base.”

Parrish’s love for the Alachua community kept him involved even after his retirement, DeCoursey said. Since Parrish’s wife, Patricia Parrish, continued to work at the police department after her husband retired, this meant he would often come around the police building.

“He was one of those sounding boards, he and his wife, they were very supportive,” DeCoursey said.

Even on the days when he didn’t need to tell DeCoursey about something, he still would stop in and check up on the officers, mainly the new ones.

“He would always take a vested interest in who was hired and how the department was going,” he said.

He may have hung up his work boots, but staying away from his old life all together was just too hard, so helping the new guys out became a regular thing for Parrish.

However, as he got older, he spent less time at the department and more time with his wife traveling and fishing.

Parrish died earlier this month at North Florida Regional Hospital after a lengthy illness at the age of 73.

Many young officers didn’t know Parrish well, but the officers that did know him have heavy hearts, DeCoursey said.

The Alachua Police Department has been trying to help Parrish’s family in this difficult time. DeCoursey has been in touch with Patricia Parrish regularly to check on her and see if she needs anything. Some officers have even been taking shifts and personally going to her home to check in.

To remember Parrish, the department will be holding a memorial for him in the future. A time hasn’t been decided yet.

Parrish’s love for his community is the reason that the Alachua Police Department has become so reputable and well-working, DeCoursey said. His work in growing the department and being a morally right leader are only two of the numerous everlasting effects he left on Alachua.

“He loved this community,” he said. “He loved the people in this community.”

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