Jim C. Parsons: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Jim Parsons.jpg|right|thumb|Jim Parsons]] | |||
'''James C. Parsons''' (born c. [[1933]]; died [[June 5]], [[2013]] at [[Brookwood Medical Center]]) was the 28th [[List of Birmingham police chiefs|Chief]] of the [[Birmingham Police Department]]. | '''James C. Parsons''' (born c. [[1933]]; died [[June 5]], [[2013]] at [[Brookwood Medical Center]]) was the 28th [[List of Birmingham police chiefs|Chief]] of the [[Birmingham Police Department]]. | ||
Parsons left high school to join the Navy at age 17. He served in Japan and Korea before his [[1954]] discharge, and earned his general equivalency degree along the way. He joined the Birmingham police that year and was promoted to | Parsons left high school to join the Navy at age 17. He served in Japan and Korea before his [[1954]] discharge, and earned his general equivalency degree along the way. He joined the Birmingham police that year and also enrolled at [[Massey Business College]] to study business law and accounting. He was promoted to Detective in [[1962]], to Sergeant in [[1963]], and to Lieutenant in [[1966]]. In [[1967]] he returned to college, studying sociology at [[UAB]]. | ||
When he was promoted from from Captain to Chief by [[George Seibels]] after [[Jamie Moore]]'s retirement in [[1972]], Parsons stated that he recognized that policemen were responsible for more than just maintaining law and order, but also needed to engage with community problems before they erupted into criminal activity. | |||
Parsons left Birmingham to serve as chief of the New Orleans Police Department in [[1978]], but returned to Alabama in [[1981]]. In retirement he conducted private investigations for a law firm. | Parsons left Birmingham to serve as chief of the New Orleans Police Department in [[1978]], but returned to Alabama in [[1981]]. In retirement he conducted private investigations for a law firm. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
* "New Police Chief for Birmingham" (August 17, 1972) ''Gadsden Times'' | |||
* Robinson, Carol (June 5, 2013) "Former Birmingham Police Chief Jim Parsons dead at 79." {{BN}} | * Robinson, Carol (June 5, 2013) "Former Birmingham Police Chief Jim Parsons dead at 79." {{BN}} | ||
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[[Category:US Navy personnel]] | [[Category:US Navy personnel]] | ||
[[Category:Korean War veterans]] | [[Category:Korean War veterans]] | ||
[[Category:Massey Business College alumni]] | |||
[[Category:UAB alumni]] | |||
[[Category:Birmingham Chiefs of Police]] | [[Category:Birmingham Chiefs of Police]] | ||
[[Category:Investigators]] | [[Category:Investigators]] | ||
[[Category:Bivens Chapel Cemetery burials]] | [[Category:Bivens Chapel Cemetery burials]] | ||
Revision as of 21:47, 15 July 2014
James C. Parsons (born c. 1933; died June 5, 2013 at Brookwood Medical Center) was the 28th Chief of the Birmingham Police Department.
Parsons left high school to join the Navy at age 17. He served in Japan and Korea before his 1954 discharge, and earned his general equivalency degree along the way. He joined the Birmingham police that year and also enrolled at Massey Business College to study business law and accounting. He was promoted to Detective in 1962, to Sergeant in 1963, and to Lieutenant in 1966. In 1967 he returned to college, studying sociology at UAB.
When he was promoted from from Captain to Chief by George Seibels after Jamie Moore's retirement in 1972, Parsons stated that he recognized that policemen were responsible for more than just maintaining law and order, but also needed to engage with community problems before they erupted into criminal activity.
Parsons left Birmingham to serve as chief of the New Orleans Police Department in 1978, but returned to Alabama in 1981. In retirement he conducted private investigations for a law firm.
Parsons died in 2013 and is buried at Bivens Chapel Cemetery in Brookside.
| Preceded by: Jamie Moore |
Chief of Birmingham Police Department 1972-1978 |
Succeeded by: Bill Myers |
References
- "New Police Chief for Birmingham" (August 17, 1972) Gadsden Times
- Robinson, Carol (June 5, 2013) "Former Birmingham Police Chief Jim Parsons dead at 79." The Birmingham News