Honors and Awards

UMPD Chief Tyrone Parham Receives Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society Distinguished Fellow Award

UMass Amherst Police Chief Tyrone Parham (center) stands with Nicole Monteiro Pyne, retired U.S. probation officer and Ruffin Society assistant secretary, and Anthony Owens, retired Dorchester clerk magistrate and Ruffin Society president.

UMass Amherst Chief of Police Tyrone Parham was named a Distinguished Fellow of the Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society at a ceremony held on Oct. 2 at the Northeastern University Alumni Center in Boston.

Parham joined other 2024 distinguished fellows who were recognized for their many achievements at the society’s 40^th anniversary celebration titled, “40 Years of Progress: Celebrating Achievements and Marching Forward.”

In total, 18 criminal justice leaders of color from across the state were honored, including Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

“I was humbled to be recognized and receive this prestigious award along with other inspirational statewide leaders who I look up to. It was an honor to share the stage with them,” Parham said.

Founded in 1984, the Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society is an organization named after George Lewis Ruffin, who was the first Black graduate of Harvard Law School and was appointed as justice of the Charlestown Municipal Court in 1883. It supports the advancement of people of color within the Massachusetts criminal justice system and seeks to enhance mutual understanding between communities and the criminal justice profession.

More information on the event and a list of honorees can be found on the Massachusetts Probation Service website.