Praising one of our protectors

Keeping our city safe is a prime concern of all residents. In Sedalia, we are fortunate to have Detective Larry Parham working to that end.

Parham recently received national recognition, bringing home the Frederick Milton Thrasher Award for Superior Service in Law Enforcement for his commitment to combating gangs. As reported by The Democrat’s Sarah Nail, one of the key reasons Parham was honored was his launching of “Gangs and Ribs,” where law enforcement officials from across the state gather to share information about gangs then share a meal.

“You get people to sit down at a meal and start talking about business,” Parham told Nail. Indeed, information sharing is a key component in stopping the spread of all varieties of crime.

Parham’s drive comes from within — during his time as a corrections officer he heard tales of gang involvement, and his mother was a drug addict.

“I couldn’t save her, so I thought I might be able to save some other people,” he told Nail.

Word of the accolade brought positive reaction from the community, including these comments from former Sedalia City Councilwoman Lauretta Emerson: “I was thrilled to read that Detective Larry Parham received the Frederick Milton Thrasher Award for Superior Service in Law Enforcement. Most of us are concerned about gangs and crime. When you see Larry, take time to say ‘thank you.’ Better yet, say ‘thank you’ to any officer you meet. These are hard-working men and women. Kindness can be contagious.”

We thank Parham and congratulate him for his commitment to keep our city safe. And as Emerson said, we also thank his brothers and sisters in arms, who join him in that effort every day.