MARYSVILLE — The Marysville Police Department is proud to announce the promotion of Officer Rick Sparr to the rank of sergeant.

Sparr, an 18-year veteran on the force, was sworn in at his new rank by Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring at the Feb. 11 City Council meeting, with Sparr’s family and several fellow police officers present, along with city staff members. In addition to patrol, Sparr has served in many capacities within the Marysville Police Department, including eight years as a field training officer, a stint in the Detective Division from 1998-2001, membership in the SWAT team since 1999, and roles in the ALERT civil disobedience team, the street narcotics team, and as one of the original members of the department’s Tactical Team, for which he currently serves as assistant team leader.

Sparr filled in as an acting sergeant in 2011. Among his accolades, Sparr was named the department’s Officer of the Year in 2005.

Marysville Police Chief Rick Smith told attendees of the Feb. 11 City Council meeting there was no doubt that Sparr was on the promotion track, noting that, from customer service and communications to leadership and management skills, Sparr hit the mark on all supervisory dimensions.

“His ability to protect our public, and his ability to work with team members and put their needs ahead of his own” are key to Sparr’s tactical-minded approach to police work, in Smith’s words.

Many more opportunities for promotion lie ahead in the Marysville Police Department over the next four to eight months, due to a combination of retirements, attrition and filling budgeted officer and administrative positions to match Marysville’s growth.