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ROSE HILL — After nearly 40 years of military and law enforcement service, 17 of those with the Duplin County Sheriff’s Department, First Sergeant Ben Parrish is retiring.
Parrish, who served as the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office training coordinator, was honored during a special ceremony on Sept. 23 at the Duplin Training Center in Rose Hill, where Sheriff Stratton Stokes presented him with a special plaque commemorating his service and dedication in the presence of his friends and family.
Parrish began his career in 1987, joining the U.S. Coast Guard at age 17, continuing a family legacy of military service. After his first military enlistment, Parrish served as a lieutenant with the Creedmoor Police Department and later with the Durham Police Department, where he took pride in community-focused work. In 2003, Parrish deployed as a combat military police officer with the Army National Guard to Iraq. It was during his second tour when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle, killing his gunner and injuring Parrish and his driver. Following recovery, Parrish decided to relocate to Duplin County, marking a new chapter in his life and career.
Parrish joined the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office in 2008 and was assigned to the gang unit, where he worked closely with federal agencies, including Homeland Security, the FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force, and the U.S. Marshals Service, to help identify and track gang activity in Duplin County.
In 2014, Parrish took on the role of training coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office, a position that would shape the final decade of his law enforcement career. Under his leadership, a former clay pit on county property was transformed into a comprehensive, multi-agency training ground essential for local law enforcement operations.
As Parrish describes it, “This is where all the magic happens.” Every newly hired officer begins their journey at this facility, where the training coordinator prepares them for duty through rigorous, hands-on instruction. Today, the 11-acre Duplin Training Center features two shooting ranges, a large classroom, and over $6.2 million worth of military-grade equipment acquired through the federal Law Enforcement Support Office program. This equipment — including Humvees, boats, ATVs, and generators — facilitates realistic scenario-based training for various emergency situations, such as active shooter drills and swift water rescues.
Despite the challenges facing his agency, particularly staffing shortages and officer retention, his passion for serving remained unwavering, a sentiment backed by his volunteer service as a firefighter and Mason.
