Location: Sheriff's Headquarters, 833 S. Akers St., Visalia

Incident Date: 9/26/19

Incident Time: 0900 hours

City: Visalia

Posted by: Media Relations

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux promoted Rodney Parker to the rank of lieutenant Thursday in a special ceremony at headquarters. 

“I couldn’t be any happier for Rodney today,” he said. “He’s the newest lieutenant at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.” 

Lieutenant Parker asked his daughter, Cayla, to pin his badge on his uniform. He said she had pinned his badge when he was promoted to Sergeant when she was only 6 years old.

He thanked the Sheriff for this opportunity and expressed gratitude toward his family, friends, and colleagues. 
“This [ceremony] is just the cherry on top of the cake,” Lieutenant Parker said.

He has been assigned to the Pixley Substation. 

Background

Lieutenant Parker started with the Sheriff’s Office as a Sheriff’s Explorer in 1983 while he was a student at Tulare Union High School. After graduating from high school in 1984, he was hired by the Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Trainee. He attended the Tulare-Kings Counties Basic Police Academy in 1987, after which, he was assigned to the Bob Wiley Detention Facility. 

From there he worked in Patrol in Pixley, helping out as Field Training Officer and the Explorer Advisor. Lieutenant Parker became a Detective in 1997 and was assigned to the North End Property Unit.

Lieutenant Parker was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1999, and was assigned to Road Camp.  

He transferred to Orosi Substation in 2003, where he later became the Field Training Supervisor. Lieutenant Parker was later transferred to the Pixley Substation and continued to be the Field Training Supervisor, as well as the Chair Person for the Explorer Program.  

In 2009, Lieutenant Parker was transferred to South End Property Crimes, and then, in 2011, to the Juvenile Crimes Unit.  In 2013, he transferred to the South End Gang Unit, at which time he attended SWAT school. 

In 2014, he was transferred to Violent Crimes. In 2016, he was transferred to Narcotics. In 2017, he was transferred into the Administrative Sergeant position for the Detective Bureau. During his time in Property & Evidence, he helped with the completion of the new building for the Unit.  

During his career, Lieutenant Parker served as an Honor Guard Member, FTO Supervisor, Diver Supervisor, K-9 Supervisor, Sniper Supervisor and SWAT Supervisor. 

He has three children and enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, hunting and riding motorcycles.