Elizabethtown Police Chief retiring after 35 years of law enforcement service
ELIZABETHTOWN, NC (WWAY) — Elizabethtown’s Police Chief, Tony Parrish, is retiring, effective June 2024.
“The Town was blessed to have Chief Parrish overseeing our Police Force for the last eight years,” Elizabethtown Mayor Sylvia Campbell said. “He has served our citizens well by substantially lowering the crime rate and creating a safe community to live, work and play. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Chief Parrish has served 35 years as a law enforcement officer and has been with the Town of Elizabethtown’s Police department since April 2016.
“We are going to miss Chief Parrish’s leadership,” Town Manager Dane Rideout added. “As Chief, he introduced the use of advanced technology and instituted several programs that enabled our officers to provide high security for our residents and businesses.”
Parrish began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer in 1988 with the City of Greenville. In 1990, he joined the North Carolina Highway Patrol where he retired as first sergeant, before becoming the Chief in Elizabethtown in 2016.
“I am proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by the entire department as we saw an overall reduction in violent crime over the past eight years,” Parrish said. “I firmly believe the groundwork has been laid for continued success in keeping Elizabethtown a safe place to live, work and play.”
According to Rideout, the Town is preparing for Parrish’s retirement and will have a new police chief in place upon his departure.
