Officer Melissa Stephens and her nephew, Firefighter Kamal Parker, have both received Badge No. 1 in their respective departments in Toledo. Stephens was recently given Badge No. 1 by the Toledo Police Department, which is assigned to the department’s longest-serving patrol officer. Parker holds Badge No. 1 for the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, recognizing his long service to the city.
Stephens, 61, began her law enforcement career nearly 32 years ago after taking the police test with a friend. She considered leaving during her first week, but a training officer encouraged her to continue.
She has worked in patrol, 911 operations, and community services, and now leads the retired senior volunteer patrol program at the Area Office on Aging…