AUGUSTA, Ga. - She’s a hero in our community. Now, our nation’s capitol recognizes her father as a hero too. Deputy Keli Parrish with the Richmond County Marshal's Office says she finds inspiration in her father's legacy. 

"I like helping people. I don’t feel like I’m more enforcing the law if I can help them to get them into compliance before they have to go to court. So, that’s what I try to do, just take care of them.” said Deputy Keli Parrish, Richmond County Marshal's Office. 

She’s about three years in her role with the Marshal's Office. That’s after spending nearly eight years with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. But, her connection to law enforcement began with her father.

"He was my hero. So, I try to make an impression on people in a positive way, and I would say that’s probably say that’s what he passed on to me.” said Deputy Parrish.

Detective Clarence "Bud" Backherms died in 2019. For almost two decades, he battled an illness after being shot in the line of duty. He worked at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

 Today, you can find his name engraved on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. 

“it was intense," said Deputy Parrish, "I was also able to get a lot of closure with it because I felt like he was more at peace now because he’s finally recognized on the wall.”

Deputy Parrish feels grateful for the support she received in our nation’s capitol and here at home.

"It’s hard to describe it in a word. The feeling is just…knowing I have that much more support and there’s a lot of people like me out there trying to do the same thing, it felt really good...I ended up earning the Deputy of the Year Award and Augusta National recognized the hometown heroes in the surrounding CSRA area. They gave me the two tickets to go to the Masters Tournament this year.”

FOX54 salutes Deputy Keli Parrish.

"Know that it’s not just me, there’s a lot of us in this agency that feel the same way that I do with the passion of helping the community.”

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