Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Officers Promoted, Lieutenant Added To Farmington Police
FARMINGTON — Farmington Police Chief Brian Hubbard has restructured the police department, awarded promotions and now has a new rank among officers.
The changes are to keep up with the growth of the community and stay in line with other departments in cities the size of Farmington, Hubbard said.
At Hubbard’s request, Farmington City Council last week approved the rank of lieutenant as a new position in the department.
In a memo to Council members, Hubbard said the rank of lieutenant will give another line of upper level supervision to provide more leadership roles on other shifts.
School Resource Officer Chad Parrish has been promoted to the new rank of lieutenant. Parrish will continue as the SRO for the remainder of the year. Patrol officer Jimmy Brotherton will take over as school resource officer for the 201718 school year.
Along with Parrish, patrol Sgt. Mike Wilbanks has been promoted to captain. The promotions place Hubbard, Wilbanks and Parrish as the top three ranking officers in the police department.
Wilbanks, 43, has been in law enforcement since 1997. He started as a parttime deputy with Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office and began working for Washington County Sheriff’s Office in 1998. Wilbanks joined Farmington as a patrol officer in 2009 and was promoted to sergeant in 2010.
Wilbanks said he considers a career in law enforcement more of a calling than a job.
“We wear a lot of different hats,” Wilbanks said, noting officers are expected to be referees in some situations and other times are expected to act more like counselors.
Being a police officer appeals to him, he said, because he wants to protect the underdog.
“I never cared much for the strong preying on the weak. And if I could prevent that, I wanted to do that. I’ve never liked a bully,” Wilbanks said.
Parrish, 41, started as a patrol officer with Fayetteville Police Department in late 1999. He joined Farmington in 2001 and has served as school resource officer since 2002, except for a short period when he worked as a part- time officer. He returned to the SRO position in 2007 and has served in that role since then. Parrish-said he has enjoyed working with students and school staff but is looking forward to trying something new.
The job description for the lieutenant’s rank says the officer will be under the captain’s supervision, will represent the department at different functions and meetings and will coordinate special events activities. The two- page job description also says the position will prepare necessary reports and records, supervise and develop training for subordinates and will supervise and assist shift personnel.
Other promotions include James Bertorello from corporal to patrol sergeant, John Collins from patrolman to corporal, Joshua Catron from patrolman to patrolman first class and Brotherton from patrolman to school resource officer. William Redfern will continue as detective. Michael Thompson will move into a new role as administrative sergeant. Desk Sgt. Billie A. Virgin will remain in the same position.