Employee Spotlight: Toledo Police Department and Toledo Fire and Rescue Department Badge Ones Share More Than a Career in Public Service

Officer Melissa Stephens didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in law enforcement. Nearly 32 years ago, she and a friend decided on a whim to take the police test. That choice led to a decades long career marked by service, mentorship, and leadership. Last week, Stephens became the most senior Toledo Police Department patrol officer when Chief Michael Troendle presented her with badge No. 1, a symbol given to the department’s longest serving officer.

Firefighter Kamal Parker, Stephens’ nephew, recently received Badge No. 1 for the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, an honor awarded to the firefighter with the longest continuous service. The badge represents a legacy of dedication, leadership, and commitment to the community, and Parker will continue to wear it until his retirement. He began his service with TFRD on September 11, 1992, and over the past 33 years has exemplified integrity, courage, and devotion in serving the community.

Stephens and Parker grew up in a close knit family, yet their paths in public safety were largely separate. “We’re pretty close; I changed his diapers,” Stephens laughed. “He came on the year before I did, and we never talked about it. He never said he was taking the fire test, and I never said I was taking the police test.”

Stephens, 61, is stationed at the Area Office on Aging, where she leads the retired senior volunteer patrol program. She recalled her early days on the streets as eye opening. “We were standing outside the house and waiting for the SWAT team to come, and I remember being afraid, because he was a guy in a house with a gun,” she said of her first week on the job. “I had regrets and I just said, ‘This isn’t for me. I don’t want to do it.’” Her training officer encouraged her to keep going, and she never looked back.

Her career has included time on patrol, working in the 911 office, and community services. Through it all, Stephens said relying on senior officers for guidance and keeping her personal life separate from work helped her handle difficult calls. “I like the job, I appreciate the job, and I appreciate what it can do for my family, but a police officer is what I do, not who I am. I don’t take it home,” she said.

Parker said he was honored to receive Badge No. 1. “Every day is an opportunity to make a difference. Wearing Badge No. 1 is not just an honor. It’s a reminder of the responsibility we carry to our community,” he said.

He added, “We were excited to serve the community we grew up in. Your job isn’t just for you. It’s for everyone in the city, and knowing your family has your back makes it possible.”

“Both of us holding the No. 1 badges simultaneously is special because it’s something we are sharing together after working over 30 years,” Parker said.

The City celebrates this remarkable achievement for both Officer Melissa Stephens and Firefighter Kamal Parker, honoring their dedication, service, and the unique family connection that makes their achievement extraordinary.

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