Chief Parks receives Distinguished Command Award

Chief Parks speaks at the opening of the new offices for UT Health San Antonio police in March.

Chief Michael J. Parks of the UT Health San Antonio Police Department has received the Distinguished Command Award from the UT Office of the Director of Police. The award is presented to officers who consistently demonstrate high levels of leadership.

Chief Parks was nominated by the police department staff for his unwavering support of his employees and the positive impact that he has had at UT Health San Antonio.

“I am very honored to be recognized by the UT System Police,” said Chief Parks, “but more importantly, I am humbled and forever grateful to my staff for all of their dedication and hard work, which made this award possible.”

Parks became the chief of police at UT Health San Antonio in 2010, after having served as director of public safety at Minnesota State University-Moorhead. He also served as the director of law enforcement at Minnesota West Community College in Worthington for four years. Prior to his tenured faculty position with Minnesota West he served as a narcotics officer for the Dakota County Drug Task Force in the Minneapolis area and as a patrol officer with the Lakeville, Minnesota, Police Department.

Parks holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, Minnesota, and a master’s degree in leadership from Concordia University, also in St. Paul. He is an adjunct faculty member in both undergraduate and graduate executive leadership course work. He was awarded the prestigious National Public Safety Director of the Year Award in 2010 by Campus Safety Magazine and the Medal of Honor for Bravery by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association in 1999.



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