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VIDALIA, La. — Monday was the last meeting of the current administration of the Concordia Parish Police Jury and the last meeting for a long-time police juror who is retired.

Joseph Parker has served his community on the police jury board now for 20 years and retired after completing his final term.

“Joseph Parker was first elected to the Concordia Parish Police Jury in 2004, and I’d like to add something else,” said Police Jury President Collin Edwards, who started his first term in 2020. “In the last four years, he has been a good friend and mentor to me.”

Edwards presented Parker with a plaque in honor of his years of service at the conclusion of Monday’s meeting.

Parker, a Clayton resident, served his first term as Police Jury President in 2020. Parker has also served on the courthouse, hospital, airport, recreation and waterways committees.

His wife is Concordia Parish School Board member Dorothy Parker.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Concordia Parish for allowing me to do this for 20 years,” he said. “It has been a pleasure for me and a joy. Any time that I can be a servant, than I know I’m doing part of God’s will. If I can bless (fellow Police Jurors) Mr. Neal, Miss Allen, Mr. Collin, Mr. Probst, Mr. Whittington, Miss Yearby, Mr. Adams or Tony, then that is being a servant also. At the same time, if any of the jury needs me for whatever, you can call me. My phone is never off. Just don’t call me too often.”

Parker said now that he’s retired, he would spend more time with family.