Jackson Free Press

In a story in today's Clarion-Ledger on flying armed, there was a buried gem of important information.

TSA spokesman Christopher White said the agency does not have a problem with Melton's bodyguards flying with their weapons, since they both are certified law enforcement officers. However, records obtained by The Clarion-Ledger about Melton and his security team show they have not completed the federally mandated training course to fly armed, and there is no indication they demonstrated a need to fly armed.

Perhaps I missed it in earlier story, but this is the first confirmation I have seen that Melton bodyguards Michael Recio and Marcus Wright have failed to complete their required TSA training. If that is true, it is a serious problem.

Last Wednesday, Officer Recio excoriated me for filing information requests for his qualifications to carry the MP5 submachine gun. He said that I had no right to the information, because it was part of his personnel file, and then said that I was endangering his safety. He also assured me that he had completed all necessary training related to weapons.

I assured Recio that the JFP had no interest in endangering him in any way. He did not provide an explanation for how the public knowing that he is actually qualified to carry an MP5 would compromise his security. After all, the JFP has already reported—and we were the first to correctly identify the weapon—that Recio and Wright sometimes carry the MP5. It's not like it's a secret. So it remains unclear to me how confirming that he has completed requiring training endangers him.

Now, it would seem that Recio and Wright have not completed all required training, at least not TSA training. This is not a game. The TSA trains officers on how to carry weapons on a plane to ensure that they do not blast a hole in the airplane. I acknowledge that the chances of that are remote, and I do not question either Recio's or Wright's proficiency with their weapons. But considering the (already) long history this administration has of averring that all t's are crossed and i's dotted even as it hurriedly goes back to actually meet its obligations under the law after the fact, I think that anyone can understand the real concerns citizens of Jackson have on this issue.

Previous Comments

ID

172567

Comment

First of all Recio has no business getting on you personally. You filed the request with the City Clerk. Why Recio, himself, felt he needed to confront you personally is very troubling. Second, how our elected officials can continue to watch Melton and posse endanger innocent people, who may not be from Jackson, with antics like this is beyond me. They are equally responsible should any harm come to someone from Melton's team.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-07-03T13:12:44-06:00

ID

172568

Comment

I agree, Pile. Shame on every city official who is not speaking out about this danger. *Every* city official. Time to face the inconvenient truth.

Author

ladd

Date

2006-07-03T13:14:15-06:00

ID

172569

Comment

It seems that the only thing that this administration understands is reaction and not action. It is painfully obvious that neither Melton nor his bodyguards have proper firearm training. Melton carries his weapon around as carelessy as a five year old. I have seen Recio and Wright on tv doing the same thing. Weapons cannot think for themselves. The person carrying the gun must do the responsible thinking. This game that Melton is playing is getting more dangerous by the day. I hope that nothing happens while he is trotting around like Robocop and spooks him into firing his weapon. If he had any type of training, then he would know that the worst problem that one has to deal with is dealing with someone that has no weapons training.

Author

lance

Date

2006-07-03T13:37:10-06:00

ID

172570

Comment

He is not a mayor, hates politics (info. from FM's own self-report) and is not trained for law inforcement. He carries around two "body.guards who are also untrained to carry the weapons they strutt around with. There is no plan for the City and he has made a mockery of everyone who had the intelligence and willingness to help move this City forward. He lies at the drop of a hat. As a matter of fact, he lies before the hat drops. He has a disrespect and a disregard for the law. How long, Lord: How Long??? Ladd, you might want to think about talking personally to Recio concerning records or anything else for that matter. These are not poster men for good citizenship awards. Be careful!

Author

justjess

Date

2006-07-03T14:25:20-06:00

ID

172571

Comment

Justjess, I think Richard Pryor once asked, too "How long, Lord; how long must this bullsh!it go on?"

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-07-03T14:32:03-06:00

ID

172572

Comment

Ray, they asked me if I could heal their son. I apologized because the boy was a waterhead and I wasn't going to touch the m****f*****. That sh** is contagious. Get the n******* a big hat or something. And you crippled people's, can't you find another church to go to? ____damn, coming in hear tearing up furniture and s***. ........

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-07-03T14:51:04-06:00

ID

172573

Comment

Jimmy, I see you know some Richard Pryor too. I have a couple of his albums here in the office. Are you still proud of that alarming rendition of the National Anthem you did years ago? That was different. Many people have copied since then. My least favorite was Robert Gulea's version(sic) wherein Mr. Cool forgot the words. Many has copied him too unfortunately.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-07-03T15:13:16-06:00

ID

172574

Comment

Rattle and Hum has a decent one. My dance partner is 20 and goes to bama. I just burned for her a couple of weeks ago a bunch of coltrane, miles, and BB. (Live at Birdland, Soultrane, Blackhawk cds, Miles Live in Europe, LIve at Carnegie Hall, and Live at Regal). She's been jamming to those and suprised how much she likes them. Also burned for her Only the Lonely by Frank. That one is killer. Dunno why I threw this in the middle of a post, just felt like it.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-07-03T15:15:57-06:00

ID

172575

Comment

and ray, on live in concert I didn't laugh at the part about getting switched. hit too close to home.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-07-03T15:24:40-06:00

ID

172576

Comment

Donna, are you still able to get answers from FM, Wright, or Recio? Can you ask if FM is planning to attend JPD's reserve class which is beginning on Aug 7. I wonder if FM thinks that he can take this class in order to receive certification to be qualified as an officer!!! (please see details in another blog... I think it is under the blog: "Hood is wrong"). I just have a bad feeling that the reserve class was quickly put together for the benefit of FM.

Author

Missy

Date

2006-07-03T15:29:31-06:00

ID

172577

Comment

Anyone contacted the TSA and told them Frankie's bodyguards aren't qualified yet? :)

Author

Ironghost

Date

2006-07-03T15:38:05-06:00