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Parke named Bonnyville staff sergeant

S/Sgt. Sarah Parke has always known she would be a police officer. Now, she's taking her dream one step further as the detachment commander for the Bonnyville RCMP. After 18 years of service with the RCMP, Parke has earned her new rank.
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Women like S/Sgt. Sarah Parke are making their mark in male-dominated fields.

S/Sgt. Sarah Parke has always known she would be a police officer. Now, she's taking her dream one step further as the detachment commander for the Bonnyville RCMP.

After 18 years of service with the RCMP, Parke has earned her new rank.

“It feels rewarding. It feels good to know one way or the other how it finally played out,” she expressed.

For about a year, Parke has taken on the role of acting detachment commander, after former Bonnyville S/Sgt. Luis Gandolfi accepted a position with an RCMP unit in St. Paul.

When she heard the position was open, Parke threw her hat into the ring.

“It was something I was wanting to pursue because of the nature of my passion for policing and helping others," she detailed. “It was an opportunity that had presented itself, and I opted to take the chance for it."

Her experience, knowledge, and abilities are some of the reasons Parke feels she was the right fit for the job.

“I have 18 years of experience with the RCMP. I’ve been in some type of supervisory role for the last 12 years. I’ve been relied upon by my superiors through my career to assist in supervising and management types of tasks. Through that experience, I was able to gain the skills and abilities required for this position,” noted Parke.

As the staff sergeant, Parke is responsible for supervising and managing the detachment.

She plans on continuing to focus on drug and drug trafficking issues in the area.

“We’ve seen that drugs and drug trafficking is a huge issue in Bonnyville and the surrounding area. I really have to give kudos to S/Sgt. Luis Gandolfi for the passion and desire he showed for Bonnyville’s need for a GIS (General Investigation Section) unit. He pushed for that for a long time,” she expressed. “They have been able to produce extremely positive results and I look forward to continuing to liaise with that unit… to continue the same things they’ve been doing, the projects they’ve been running, and the arrests and charges they’ve made."

Her aspirations to join the RCMP started in high school. After completing a university degree, she applied to the force and was accepted.

“After six months at depot, I was posted to Vermilion in 2000. I spent nearly eight years there, and was transferred to Lac La Biche where I transitioned into the role of corporal. I was there for nearly seven years before transferring to Bonnyville in 2015, into the role of sergeant here,” she explained. "It was something I have always wanted to do."

Parke and her family quickly fell in love with the area, which is one of the reasons why they were so excited to hear the news that Parke would be the new detachment commander.

"My family and I are very happy with this new venture, because it solidifies our presence in the community that much longer. We really enjoy Bonnyville,” Parke said.

She added, “On the work side of things, I’m looking forward to running my own detachment and dealing with the successes and challenges that it’s definitely going to have along the way. I’m looking forward to dealing with those as they come, and hopefully continuing to liaise with community partners and work together to meet our priorities and goals."

Parke encourages the public to reach out to her with their concerns so they can work together to find a solution.

“I’m looking forward to starting the next chapter as the detachment commander."

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