Breaking barriers: Cal Green makes history as City of Natchez’s first female police chief

On Tuesday, the appointment of Cal Green as the City of Natchez’s first female police chief was made official, marking a historic moment for the city.

Green expressed that being appointed as the first female police chief made her feel as though she was living a dream. With a 5-1 vote from the Board of Aldermen, Green was appointed to the position.

“I was the first female housing officer for the Natchez Police Department, and I was the first certified Adams County Sheriff’s Office Female Deputy,” Chief Green told WLBT. “In fact, I was the first deputy there and it took them 10 years to hire at another woman to be on the road there. When I came to work at the Natchez police department, I was the first female commander to ever serve at this department, and now I am the first female chief.”

The Natchez Police Department is currently experiencing a shortage of 15 officers, and Green has a lengthy list of tasks to tackle in her new role. Officer recruitment and retention are top priorities for her, and she intends to visit colleges, high schools, and host job fairs to highlight the advantages of serving and protecting the city of Natchez.

Green is also determined to improve community engagement and foster stronger relationships with those who live and work in the city. Following the regular board meeting, Mayor Dan Gibson administered the oath of office to Green.

Green’s journey to the role of police chief began in 1997 when she started working for the Natchez Police Department. After working as a lieutenant for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office for 18 years, she returned to the police department as its first female commander two years ago. Following the resignation of former Chief Joseph Daughtry Sr. in December 2022, Green served as interim police chief before being officially appointed to the position.