In too many instances, parents and other caregivers point to law enforcement officers with the warning
to children in their care, “Behave, or the police will take you to jail.”
This is the wrong message. Law Enforcement officers are here to protect you, your environment and your
way of life. If you’re the bad guy, I will bust you. If you’re the good guy, I will protect you. This
is the message that Park Police's Officer Michelle Dupree delivers as she patrols her “beat” along Florida’s
Panhandle state parks on the Gulf Coast. Based in Panama City, Officer Dupree patrols St. Andrews, Camp
Helen, Eden Gardens, Deer Lake, Grayton Beach and Ponce De Leon Springs state parks.
Her actions speak louder than words. She welcomes anglers to the excellent fishing opportunities our state
parks provide, asks about their fishing goals for the day, and provides them information about size limits
and protected marine species. She wants them to know the rules so they can follow the rules.
She knows the parks’ regular visitors. She knows their faces, she knows their names. She knows why they
come to this particular park. She talks to their children, knows why they like the park, what activities
entice the children away from video games and to the beach.
She patrols her parks’ campgrounds and trails. “I’m here to make sure that our campers, our daily walkers,
runners and bicyclists are safe. I’m here to make sure our natural resources are protected.”
Officer Dupree is one of many DEP Park Police officers who have chosen to protect our environment by helping
those who enjoy our environment understand the value of protecting our natural resources.
“I want my great-great-great-grandchildren to enjoy what I enjoy today.” Officer Dupree gazes at the
blue-green Gulf of Mexico, the sugar-white sand that defines a Florida beach. She smiles, confident
that her job—teaching park guests the value of environmental respect, arresting those whose disrespect
for the environment or whose disregard for laws protecting the environment endanger our way of life—will
provide that legacy.
