By Mary Mitchell
The Chicago Sun-Times
William A. Parker Sr., a former Chicago Police officer, died May 4. He was 75 years old.
Most of you probably have not heard of Parker, although he gained some recognition for testifying about alleged torture during Jon Burge’s reign.
But to many of the officers who will gather today to honor Parker, his legacy extends far beyond the integrity he showed when he spoke up about Burge’s abuse of suspects.
Marcel Bright, director of public affairs for Stroger Hospital, was a Chicago Police officer for 22 years.
He got choked up talking about the kindness Parker showed him and other rookie officers.
“Being a black officer in the black community is difficult. You face a lot of challenge that officers from another ethnic group don’t face, especially years ago,” he said.
“One thing Bill always told me and other officers: ‘The blue shirt will only get you so far. You have to give respect to receive respect.’
“No matter what your station in life, you were always Mr. or Ms. or Mrs. He made a point of that,” Bright said.
Parker joined the Chicago Police Department on Oct. 1, 1957. He eventually became a detective. He retired in 1990.
In 2007, Parker testified before Chicago aldermen who were holding hearings to consider the Burge torture report:
“I was shocked. See this man sitting on the floor with his pants and his shorts pulled down to his knees -- handcuffed to, and we all referred to the radiator in there as Old Smokey because it was always steaming -- and he was handcuffed to that hot radiator. I was shocked.... I never heard a human outcry like that in my life.”
“He took a lot of persecution after that,” Bright said.
“I was a rookie officer in 1987, and he was working in the 2nd District. At that time, it was the worst district because of all the public housing. But he never lost his positive outlook. He took myself and other young police officers under his wing, trying to teach us about how to be good police officers.”
A spokesman for police News Affairs noted that Parker’s passing was mentioned in a police bulletin. He was listed as a retired officer formerly assigned to the Police Academy’s education and training division.
“They talk about [community policing] now, but he was doing it before the term was invented. And he made a point of telling young officers to go back to school,” Bright recalled.
“We had long conversations throughout the night about what kind of positive influence we could have while serving [in the black community],” Bright said.
“We have to protect them from the bad elements in our community,” was a charge that Bright said Parker often repeated.
Bright attributes his successful career as a Chicago Police officer to Parker’s influence.
“He not only made me a better police officer, he made me a better human being,” Bright said.
Services for Parker will be held today at Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester. The wake is at 10 a.m. A St. Jude service is at 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.