On April 1, 2004, Robert Parker was appointed Director of the Miami-Dade Police Department and has been employed with the Department for 33 distinguished years.  Director Parker joined the Miami-Dade Police Department in 1976, and was promoted through all the civil service ranks. He has diverse experience in police management and operations, to include past assignments as Assistant Director of Police Services responsible for the operations of three divisions and two bureaus, including the nine uniform district stations, Division Chief of the North Operations Division and the Special Investigations Division, Major in charge of a district command, Police Bureau Commander in charge of the Economic Crimes and Strategic Investigations Bureaus.  He has also worked in a variety of other investigative and uniformed police assignments as a Lieutenant, Master Sergeant, Sergeant, Corporal and Officer. In addition, Director Parker served honorably in the United States Army.

Shortly after Director Parker announced his retirement, Mayor Alvarez appointed 26-year veteran of Miami-Dade Police James Loftus to serve as interim director of the Miami-Dade Police Department until a permanent director is appointed. Miami-Dade County congratulates Director Robert Parker on a long and distinguished career in law enforcement and salutes him for delivering excellence every day.

(L to R) Exec. Asst. Dept. Director Redmon-Jones (MDPD); Commissioner Heyman; Commissioner Sosa; MDPD Interim Director J. Loftus; Director Parker's two sons; Commissioner Sorenson; Commissioner Gimenez; Director Parker's wife Veronica; Commissioner Rolle; Director Parker; Mayor Alvarez; Chairman Moss; Vice Chairman Diaz; Commissioner Edmonson; County Attorney Cuevas; Asst. County Manager Tejeda-Hudak; County Manager Burgess; and Asst. County Attorney Price-Williams
Photo credit: Armando Rodriguez/Miami-Dade County