Roddy Parker Leaves a Remarkable Difference in Nolensville

Police Chief Roddy Parker brought excellent experience when he started to work for Nolensville in October 2017, when the town’s population was 11,000. Now that number’s at 17,000, and Chief Parker is ending his tenure with the department that has grown along with the town.

“I worked for the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin, Tennessee, starting as dispatcher in 1978, retiring in October 2017 at the rank of Captain over the Patrol Division,” he said. “This involved K9, special operations, search and rescue, aviation, and the traffic unit. I had a lot on my plate.”  

His expertise enabled him to build and organize the Nolensville Police Department basically from the ground up.

“When [the city] came to me, there was a staff of three and myself. One staff member quit shortly after my taking office. Today, we are budgeted for 19 full-time staff members, plus one administrative staff member, and six reserve officers,” he said. 

“In 2023, Nolensville was chosen by Safewise (a website that provides information on home safety and security) as the safest city in Tennessee.”

Former Chief Parker was not only professionally experienced but well equipped academically to lead his team in protecting Nolensville residents. His curriculum vitae shows a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Middle Tennessee 

State University (MTSU), and he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, Virginia.  

Proof is in the pudding – the summer before he took office in 2017, Nolensville business district suffered six night-time burglaries with no arrest.

“I took office, and in November, we revealed a suspect and made an arrest. Because I had been an investigator for several years, the experience helped.”

While serving as chief, he said that he most enjoyed meeting a lot of people and building relationships, attending events, and putting bad guys in jail. He considers the most dangerous thing about being a police officer in Nolensville is that a lot of times, an officer might be alone on duty.  

Former Chief Parker doesn’t reside in Nolensville, rather Franklin, and he sees Nolensville as fast growing. “My hope is that the Nolensville city government will provide resources to continue to make Nolensville a safe place in which to live.”

He said that he will miss the people, the camaraderie, and being a part of the team. “I bought a 1963 Chevrolet Impala and plan to go to classic car shows, fish, and visit friends and family.”

He has known the new Nolensville Chief of Police Dale Armour for many years and offered his services in any way possible.  

“My whole purpose for being Nolensville Police Chief was to protect and serve – it wasn’t a job – it was a passion,” he said in fond remembrance.