Page 176 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2022

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Women
ON PATROL
story by John N. Felsher
photo courtesy of Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
Officers serving in the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Office of Marine Patrol daily encounter people in remote places knowing that
practically everyone will be armed and their backup could be hours away.
Senior Master Sergeant Jada Whittington grew up in Biloxi. Her family worked in the seafood industry, but she drew her inspiration from an aunt, one of the first female Marine Patrol officers.
“Growing up, I would hear the stories my aunt would tell,” Whittington remembers. “It was always important for me to follow in her footsteps. I just fell in love with the career.”
Senior Master Sergeant Daphne Moore grew up in the Pascagoula and Moss Point area. She joined the Marine Corps after high school. After her discharge, she took a job as a Marine
Patrol dispatcher. About a year later, she became a patrol officer. “When I came on as a dispatcher, it was just a job at first, but luckily for me, it became a lot more than a job,” Moore recalls.
“I had an opportunity to see how the Marine Patrol and the department interacted with the public. I became passionate about it and applied for an officer position. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”
Marine Patrol enforces all federal, state, boating and conservation laws to protect and preserve the wildlife and habitats of coastal Mississippi. On any given day, they could be heading up a river or miles offshore.
“I have the privilege of working with both of these ladies,” remarked Marine Patrol Capt. Michael Strickland. “They are both senior level field training officers that also hold first-line supervisory roles. In addition to their day-to-day duties, they also
176 | September 2022
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