ESU Announces New Chief Of Police, SARP’s William Parrish

Posted by: admin on February 18, 2016, No Comments

Ken Long, vice president of administration and finance at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU), announced the appointment of William Parrish as chief of university police effective March, 19, 2016.  Parrish comes to ESU from his position as Chief of Police for the Stroud Area Regional Police (SARP) Department in East Stroudsburg, Pa., a position he has held since 2012. Parrish has been a member of SARP since 2000, and prior to his post with SARP, he was a member of the Stroud Township Police Department and the Stroudsburg Police Department respectively.  He also served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer.

Parrish is a graduate of Stroudsburg High School and attended Penn State University.  He also attended Military Police School (U.S. Army), the Pennsylvania Police Training Academy, the Criminal Investigation School (Allentown Academy), the Command Institute for Police Executives and the FBI National Academy.

“Chief’s career history in law enforcement demonstrates not only his dedication to serving the people of Monroe County but his true commitment to making our community safe,” said Long.  “While the university embarked on an extensive search for the right person for our police department, it came down to finding the ideal fit within our own neighborhood.  He is a man of great integrity who happens to be well respected.  We are certain Chief Parrish will serve our students, and all of us, well.”

At ESU, Parrish will report directly to Long.  In this position, he will be responsible for the administration, operation, strategic planning and financial oversight of ESU’s comprehensive full-service police agency and policing program.  Chief Parrish will interact with a variety of university constituents as well as local, regional, state and federal authorities to develop and implement comprehensive services and programs for the safety and protection of the campus community.  He will also represent ESU and University Police in the local community and will serve as the primary contact with local, regional, state and federal emergency management authorities.

Beyond his role as SARP’s Chief of Police, Parrish has been recognized by the regional community for his outstanding work. In 2015, he received the A. Mitchel Palmer Award conferred by the East Stroudsburg Elks Lodge 319, in 2014 he was honored as a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award at ESU’s annual celebration breakfast, and he was recognized as Police Officer of the Year by the Kiwanis Club of Stroudsburg in 1993, while working for the Stroud Township Police Department, and again in 2001, as a detective with SARP.  Parrish is also involved in many community initiatives including: Monroe County Advisory Committee to the PA Human Relations Commission, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Monroe County, Cops and Kids Reading and Literacy Program in partnership with Pocono Alliance, Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force Coordinating Team, Monroe County Crime Stoppers, Monroe County Crisis Intervention Team, Rotary Club of the Poconos, FBI National Academy Associates, Pocono Family YMCA, the Community Health Connections Steering Committee for Pocono Medical Center and more.

Parrish resides in East Stroudsburg, Pa. with his wife, Kathy.