When 31-year-old Brookhaven police officer Zach Moak was killed in the line of duty in September 2018, he fought to his very last breath to save his partner, James White.
Zach Moak’s mother, Vicki Moak, recounted his final minutes to Exchange Club on Thursday at Lion Hills Center.
“He and James White answered a call of shots fired, and when they got there, James was pretty well killed within a few minutes,” Vicki Moak said. “But Zach did stand his ground, and he did beg for the man to hand his gun over. Zach was mortally shot just up above the vest and (the bullet) hit his carotid artery. Even through that he still tried to pull James — he never did know James was dead. … He kept asking, ‘Are you OK?’ And he tried to pull him to safety.”
In the wake of her son’s death, Vicki Moak created a nonprofit called Warriors of the Badge that financially helps families of first responders who are killed or critically injured in the line of duty.
Warriors of the Badge was established in 2019, and Moak said the nonprofit has given more than $65,000 to roughly 35 families impacted by losses.
“It’s our goal as soon as someone is killed or critically injured to get a check to their family as soon as possible,” Moak said. “… The only thing I had to go by at the time was the amount Zach drew, what he brought home. So we try to give as close to a month’s salary that Zach made. I don’t know what each area makes. … That was the amount that God kept putting in my head, so I’ll listen to him.”
Moak said the organization has a board of directors made up of 11 members, and it is based in Bogue Chitto. She said no one, including herself, receives money for their work with Warriors of the Badge.
She finds families in need mostly by tracking the news then reaching out to specific departments, but she said she struggles to find families to help sometimes because first responder deaths don’t always get days worth of coverage like Zach’s death did in 2018.
To raise money for the families of those impacted, she holds fundraisers like a Sept. 11 5K run, cornhole tournament, raffles and an annual poker ride — an event that includes any “roadworthy vehicle.”
She said because of the work the organization has done to help families of first responders, the Picayune Police Department is hosting a softball tournament to benefit Warriors of the Badge in June.
The nonprofit’s bylaws allow for nationwide expansion. Moak, however, said she is content taking care of Mississippi right now. She also said other organizations or private citizens around the state and even country are welcome to host fundraisers to benefit Warriors of the Badge.
“This is where my passion is: helping these families,” Moak said. “I don’t mind coming if anybody wants to set anything up or have an idea. We can’t just stick in Lincoln County, so we’re trying to venture out.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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