Perkins chief retires

PERKINS TWP. — After 28 years with the Perkins Township Police Department, including serving as the chief for about the past three years, Robb Parthemore bid farewell to the agency on Friday. Parthemore announced his retirement from the department earlier this year. The department had a small send-off ceremony for him Friday. Parthemore praised members of the department he's worked with over the years. "We have a good group of people here. They've made things easy on me, really," he said. Assistant Perkins police Chief Vince Donald will become the department's interim chief on Saturday. A search process for a new chief is expected to occur; Donald previously told the Register he's interested in applying for the position. Parthemore praised Donald and his role in the transition process. Parthemore's retirement announcement came before the novel coronavirus began spreading in the U.S. He said that if the virus' effect locally had been more severe, he would have offered to stay at the department longer to see it out — but he feels the agency is in a good place with the amount of protective equipment it has, along with the staff's experience and know-how. Among the accomplishments Parthemore is most proud, he said, include re-establishing a second school resource officer, implementing a new radio system for the department's officers and securing nearly $1 million in grant funding for the department. He also said he was happy that the department currently has the most 20-year law enforcement veterans that it's ever had. "The community we serve is a good community. I'm honored and blessed to have the career I've had," he said. "I'll always call Perkins home. It seems like it's gone so fast."