Jonesboro officer dies during training, funeral arrangements made

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - The Jonesboro police force is mourning the passing of one of their colleagues in blue.

Patrolman Vincent Parks died Sunday, July 17, according to a news release from the Jonesboro Police Department.

According to the release, Parks died “during training exercises” at the Central Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock.

Arkansas State Police said Parks started showing signs of “medical distress” when he and other JPD officers arrived Sunday afternoon for training.

ASP said in its statement that academy instructors administered oxygen to Parks until an ambulance arrived.

“Parks was able to walk to an ambulance that had been summoned but was stricken by cardiac arrest almost immediately upon entering the ambulance,” ASP stated

Officer Parks was pronounced dead at the hospital.

His body has been transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab, where the state medical examiner will determine the “cause and manner” of his death.

Parks started working with the department a little over a month ago on June 15. JPD said he recently completed in-house training with the department before heading to the training academy.

“In a day and time where so few are willing step-up to be among those who protect and serve our communities, it seems unjust that a man like Officer Parks, who was prepared to sacrifice for his community, be taken from his calling,” said Jami Cook, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety and director of the Commission of Arkansas Law Enforcement Standards and Training. “We are saddened and grieve for him, his family, and fellow officers, yet we know his life was not in vain. He answered the call.”

Officer Parks’ visitation will take place Friday, July 22 from 9:30 a.m. to Noon at Central Baptist Church with his funeral to follow after the visitation. He will be buried at the Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery. Emerson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Funeral honors will be provided by the Jonesboro Police Department’s Honor Guard.

On Tuesday, July 19, Governor Asa Hutchinson ordered all state flags to be lowered to half-staff until July 22 to honor Officer Vincent Parks.

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