Cheney woman who worked for California police department among those killed in Las Vegas concert shooting

A Cheney native who went on to work for the Manhattan Beach, California police department was among those killed in Sunday’s concert shooting in Las Vegas.

Rachael Parker, 33, was among the first victims of the shooting to be publicly identified. She died at a Las Vegas hospital.

Officer Kristie Colombo said she and Parker joined the Manhattan Beach Police Department around the same time 10 years ago. She said Parker was a records technician who worked at the front desk and often served as “the face of the department” – the first person callers and visitors interacted with.

Colombo said Parker had many friends in the agency and in the community.

“She’s going to be deeply missed,” Colombo said.

Parker was one of four off-duty employees of the police department who attended the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a three-day country music event along the Las Vegas Strip. An officer also was shot and suffered minor injuries.

Parker graduated from Cheney High School in 2002. Her mother, Robin Monter, who now lives in Edwall, Washington, told KXLY she flew to Las Vegas on Monday after receiving word of her daughter’s death.

Monter told the TV station her daughter was “brilliant and had a heart of gold” and had volunteered with homeless and elderly people.

Arlene Richardson, a friend and neighbor of Parker’s, told the Long Beach Post that Parker attended the concert to celebrate another friend’s birthday.

Richardson described Parker as a dog lover with two pet rottweilers and a great sense of humor.

“She deserves all the praise,” Richardson said. “She was just such a great person.”