By FRED KRONER
Before Dave Parsons’ professional career ever took flight, he headed in a different direction.
After graduating from Mahomet-Seymour High School in1987, Parsons enrolled at the University of Illinois.
“I was going to be a pilot,” he said.
Parsons soon decided to stay grounded.
“It hit me one day. ‘I don’t want to fly. That’s not my thing,’” he said.
He shifted his major to sociology, and specialized in criminology.
Parsons was more in his comfort zone with that decision. His father, Phil, is a former Mahomet police officer.
As a teen-ager, Dave Parsons did ride-alongs with Mahomet officers such as Chuck Casagrande and Darrell Ruch.
“I never dreamed this would be my course,” Dave Parsons said.
Even after he was hired to work in his hometown department, he didn’t consider this his final stop in law enforcement.
“I thought I would never stay here,” Dave Parsons said.
On Aug. 26, he will have been on the job in Mahomet for 24 years. He will retire – on Sept. 11, of all dates – but won’t have to look long and hard for ways to keep busy.
“My parents retired from their electrical business and that’s what I’ve focused my time on during days off or after 3 to keep up with it,” Dave Parsons said.
He will immediately transition from retired officer to the full-time proprietor of Dave Parsons Electric.
The law enforcement job he didn’t visualize for himself as a youth is now one which he believes he was destined to have.
“I think I was meant to be that,” Dave Parsons said. “That’s why I was put here.”
The timing was right to step aside.
“I’ve worked a lot of midnights (shifts),” he said, “until a few years ago, I went to day shift. I’ve worked about every holiday and almost every weekend.
“I want to be home with family.”
The appeal of police work for Parsons – in addition to protecting the public – is the variety the job offers.
“I’m not stuck in an office,” he said. “Whether I’m writing tickets, handling a DUI or armed robbery or domestic, it’s a big unknown each day. You never know what you will do.”
Another variable was added in 2020 as the coronavirus spread and turned into a world-wide pandemic.
“When COVID hit, none of us knew what would happen,” Dave Parsons said. “We take more precautions, but we’re still handling our calls.
“It has not affected things like I thought it would.”
The longer he has been on the police force, the less Parsons craves the excitement that can come with the unexpected.
“The older I get, I hope I don’t have to do a whole lot,” he said.
The changes he has witnessed go beyond the development of technology in helping to solve crimes.
“When I started, Sandy Ridge was as far east as we went,” Dave Parsons said.
Now, as housing units and the village limits have expanded, there’s more territory to cover.
“You can not get everywhere any more (in one shift),” he said. “You get there when you get there.”
There’s one area where growth has been significantly less.
“When I started, I was one of six (officers, counting the chief),” Dave Parsons said. “Now, I’m one of 10 (counting the chief).”
Early in his career, Parsons might be the only officer on duty during his shift.
“When I started, you worked by yourself,” he said. “Now, I rarely work by myself. That was an adjustment.”
Like many of us, Parsons spends some free time at home watching television. It’s difficult to turn the dials without coming across a show about law enforcement or detective work.
He watches, he said, “for the entertainment value,” but added they are not all fictional and far-fetched.
“In shows like CSI, the techniques are correct,” Dave Parsons said.
Not everything, however, is realistic.
“You don’t get DNA back overnight,” he said.
Parsons is currently second in seniority (to Tim Elliott) in the Mahomet police department.
His years of experience have taught him how to deal with conflict. Using tact and remaining calm and controlled are keys.
“I’ve learned how to talk with people and talk a situation down,” Dave Parsons said. “That’s a skill I’m most proud of.”
It’s not a trait he developed in the snap of a finger.
“It takes time,” Dave Parsons said. “A lot of it starts with listening.
“Usually a person is frustrated with something. You want to make them part of the solution; make them feel empowered.”
Parsons has gone his entire career without needing to fire his weapon while on duty.
“The majority of officers go through their entire careers without having to fire their duty pistol,” Mahomet Chief of Police Mike Metzler said. “That’s a common misperception popularized by dramatic TV shows.
“That’s as far from reality as you can get.”
Metzler said Parsons embodies the traits he likes to see in officers.
“Officers need common sense and humility, and Dave has an abundance of both,” Metzler said. “He’s a great resource, a good friend and pleasant to be around.”
Additionally, Metzler called Parsons a good role model for other officers.
“He is always anxious to learn and never misses the opportunity to get better,” Metzler said. “Last year, we decided officers needed more training on searching techniques.
“Dave took that to heart and is always looking for feedback, ‘How do I make this better?’ I found in firearms training, he always strives to get better.
“That’s the benchmark a lot of young people can strive for.”
Metzler said Parsons’ efforts beyond doing his job have not gone unnoticed.
“Dave is as committed to Mahomet as anybody I know,” Metzler said. “He is involved in every aspect from Corn Belt to the family business to the township to the River Fest, where he has put in a huge amount of effort.
“He and the rest of the team did a tremendous job nurturing and building what started out small into what everyone looks forward to every summer.
“It’s always my favorite weekend of the year.”
Parsons serves as the chairman of the Mahomet River Fest committee.
“The chief gave me time to do that and it’s a labor of love,” said Parsons, who plans to continue in that capacity “as long as the mayor appoints me.”
When Parsons began volunteering, it was with the idea, “we can make this a better festival,” though he is surprised by the way it has evolved.
“I never dreamed we’d be at the point we’re at,” Parsons added.
Metzler is not surprised by the numerous contributions Parsons has made in his community.
“He is one of those people who if you ask him to do something, is always willing and jumps right in and takes care of it,” Metzler said.
The police chief said there will be a void when Parsons’ retirement takes effect.
“Dave is truly one of the good guys,” Metzler said. “He’ll be sorely missed.
“I like to see people get out of the profession when they’re on top and healthy, and can enjoy the opportunity to retire, though he’s not one who is likely to sit on his porch on his rocking chair.”
Parsons, 51, submitted his notice to retire to Metzler in January, he said, “to give him time to hire someone.”
When he looked at potential last days to work, Friday, Aug. 28 would be the closest to following his anniversary date (of Aug. 24), but he discounted that at the time since it was originally scheduled as the weekend for the (now-canceled) Mahomet Music Fest.
When he checked the calendar, the following Friday would be Sept. 4, but that is part of the Labor Day holiday, so he decided to stay one more week.
Thus, he will finish up on a date which is symbolic for law enforcement, 9/11.
“It’s just the way the calendar fell,” Parsons added. “It has been a great career and a fun career.”
