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Commission Honors Director Who Made Jail 'Landmark'

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2008

Updated: 11/06/2008 10:53 am

Hillsborough County commissioners today saluted retired sheriff's Col. David M. Parrish today as a visionary in modern and efficient corrections management.

Parrish, who left his post in September after 34 years of service, oversaw construction of 1.5 million square feet of direct supervision jail space over a 25-year period. He was recipient of the E.R. Cass Award, the highest award in the corrections field.

Former Sheriff Cal Henderson told commissioners Parrish made the county jail a "landmark" for criminal justice.

"David is the consummate professional who's known all around the country," Henderson told commissioners. "I used to go to conferences and everybody would ask me, 'How's David?' "

Parrish joked with commissioners, saying he hadn't come to ask for money.

"But I can tell you what the [jail] count is. I checked this morning."

Although retired, Parrish said he regularly flies to California to advise corrections officials there on how to build and run jails.

"I've been given an opportunity that nobody in my career path gets to do," he said.

Commissioner Mark Sharpe said the nation needs more leaders like Parrish as it looks for innovative ways to deal with an ever-growing jail and prison population.

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