ORANGE : Police Chief Will Take Medical Leave

Police Chief Michael D. Parker has requested a leave of absence while he seeks treatment for a rare form of bone cancer.

Parker, 48, will enter St. Joseph Hospital in Orange on Tuesday for treatment of multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks the bone marrow. After a six- to eight-week hospital stay, he will recuperate at his Palm Springs home and plans to return to the department this spring.

Former Police Chief Merrill V. Duncan will assume Parker’s duties during his recuperation.

Multiple myeloma causes bone deterioration; Parker has suffered 14 broken ribs, a twice-broken neck and multiple other fractures over the past few years.

A 27-year veteran of the Orange Police Department, Parker oversaw the design and construction of the recently completed police headquarters on North Batavia Street. He was appointed chief last January, an honor that he says gave him a psychological “boost” in his five-year battle against cancer.

“He hasn’t missed a beat at work and has been doing a great job,” Mayor Gene Beyer confirmed. “We’re hoping this treatment will get rid of the cancer completely.”