Mike Whitmore, police chief here for the past 15 years, is resigning to become the new head of security for the Pascagoula School District.

The Pascagoula School Board this week approved the hiring of Whitmore to replace Mike Ezell, who is retiring after heading up the district’s security department for the past four years.

Whitmore, 59, has been a member of the Pascagoula Police Department since 1972. He was named chief in 1992. Whitmore is to take over the district job on July 1.

“His (Whitmore’s) shoes are going to be very difficult to fill,” said Mayor Matthew Avara, who has known Whitmore for 35 years and considers him “the best friend I have.”

Six current police captains are scheduled to take the chief’s test with possibly more candidates, Avara said. The civil service commission will review the applicants and recommend three choices to City Manager Kay Kell, who will appoint the new chief.

The selection process could take between two to three months, Avara said in a www.gulflive.com article.