Sutter lawmen change

Capt. J. Paul Parker of the Sutter County Sheriff's Department will become the county's new undersheriff July 22.

Sheriff Jim Denney announced Parker's appointment Friday. Parker will replace Undersheriff Bill Grove, who will retire July 21.

Lt. David Samson will be promoted to captain and replace Parker as commander of the Patrol Division, Denney said.

Parker, 51, joined the department in 1972 as one of the original members of the department's cadet program. In 1976 he became an officer with the former Live Oak Police Department.

He returned to the Sheriff's Department in 1980 as a deputy and was promoted to corporal in 1985, sergeant in 1989 and captain in 1999. He has commanded the jail and patrol divisions, Denney said.

Parker also has served as an investigator, member of the SWAT team and an administrator. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and graduated from the FBI National Law Enforcement Academy in 1995. He is a part-time instructor at Yuba College.

A lifelong resident of the area, Parker lives in Yuba City with his wife Kate. He is the father of two daughters and one son.

Samson, 45, joined the department in 1988 as a reserve deputy and became full time in 1992. He was appointed sergeant in 1997 and lieutenant in February of this year.

Samson was supervisor of the department's Live Oak substation from 1998 until this year and has served with the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic Enforcement Team. He is a graduate of Yuba College and the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute.

In December, Samson will receive a bachelor of science degree in professional studies from California State University, Long Beach. He lives in Bangor with his wife Tammy and is the father of two sons.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young can be reached at 749-4710. You may e-mail him at ryoung@appeal-democrat.com.