Jackson Free Press

The city has released new ComStat figures, and the news remains disquieting. Crime, whether property crime or violent crime, is up over this time last year in every category but rape. Carjackings remain the most serious problem, with a 90 percent increase over last year. Homicides are 22 percent higher than last year, though it is vital to note that there were 11 this year and 9 last. Check out the report.

Previous Comments

ID

173399

Comment

A new ComStat report is available on the crimeblog. To quote Anderson: "Hey, crime is up."

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2006-06-09T15:43:26-06:00

ID

173400

Comment

Reviewing tape of this week's City Council Meeting, am I the only one who heard FM say he was 'negotiating with the military' regarding crime here? Does this mean martial law? Are these kind of plans open to the public or does this just happen with a press conference with the military. Who would the 'military' be in this case? Does the 'military' negotiate with a Mayor?

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2006-06-15T10:00:36-06:00

ID

173401

Comment

You weren't the only one. I was eating dinner while watching the meeting last night and nearly spit out my kool-aid when I heard him rambling on prior to leaving the council chambers. I've been living in a Melton-free zone for the last couple of weeks so I've avoided saying much about Mayor Meltdown, but chalk this one up to his usual "fire-ready-aim" offhand comments. The mayor can't declare martial law in this city w/o a state of emergency declaration, and even then it would probably have to be in conjunction with the governor (for Miss Guard troops) or the President (for armed forces), neither of which is going to happen. This is akin to his "lockdown" comments from last fall. He's so full of it his eyes are turning browner every day. He should look into getting an enema.

Author

jeff lucas

Date

2006-06-15T10:53:00-06:00

ID

173402

Comment

From this mornings C-L, it looks like Meltdown considers Jackson in a state of emergency from crime and would like to declare martial law. This guy really knows how to shoot himself in the foot, reload and try again.

Author

jeff lucas

Date

2006-06-16T06:34:36-06:00

ID

173403

Comment

Well it looks like Barney Fife has done it again. I would love to be a fly on the wall when he asks the governor for military assistance in solving Jackson's crime problem that he has apparently escalated. Does this idiot not realize that we are just entering another hurricane season? We need to be prepared for a statewide/national disaster, not be in Jackson to cover for his ineptness. Will he ever realize that he is a part of the problem and not the solution. He breaks the law almost on a daily basis. How can he effectively enforce anything? Does he believe that a hug is the answer to everything? Wake up Frank. It's time to face reality..............you are not the person for the job.

Author

rufus

Date

2006-06-16T08:01:29-06:00

ID

173404

Comment

Before I jumped on for my use of the term "martial law", Melton didn't explicitly say anything about declaring martial law in the strictest since, but he clearly thinks that having a military presence in addition to the police patrols is the way to get crime under control. But the term "state of emergency" would seem to suggest something more serious than routine law enforcement. The most ridiculous comment he made in the article was that he wanted to start with the Air Force. WTF?!? Unless he (Melton) has a direct line to the White House and plans on dropping a Daisycutter on West Jackson, I don't think the Governor has any say on the use of the Air Force.

Author

jeff lucas

Date

2006-06-16T09:43:29-06:00

ID

173405

Comment

Melton is suffering from what his homeboys, the Geto Boys, wrote a hit record about - "Mind Playing Tricks on Me." He should be ashamed to say this crazy crap. He loves t.v. attention but needs medical attention instead.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2006-06-16T09:52:58-06:00

ID

173406

Comment

"Melton is suffering from what his homeboys, the Geto Boys, wrote a hit record about - "Mind Playing Tricks on Me."" lol! Very nice... One of my favorite Geto Boys offerings. The 5th Ward Houston parallels are there, too. Never thought of that. Also, the part where Willie D (I think? It's been a while) wonders if the person stalking him is either the person that he ran off the block, the one that he shot last week or the one that he made 5 Grand off of by selling him Gold Medal Flour instead of nose candy seems fitting. If you've done that many people THAT wrong, you ain't livin' right. All in all, the paranoia theme fits the Meltdown administration to a T. Good call.

Author

millhouse

Date

2006-06-16T10:09:25-06:00

ID

173407

Comment

Unfortunately rufus, Melton has too many stubborn supporters who are going to go to whatever lengths to insure that "they" are not proven wrong about supporting him. It is one thing to watch good people make mistakes, it is another to watch them not be able to admit they made them. Take for instance this morning on Ben and Larry, Frank Blunston called in to complain that he was sick and tired of crime in Jackson. He is also sick and tired of meltons critics harping on everything he's done. He claims "they" (i guess melton critics) don't say a word when an elderly woman is attacked. He goes on to say crimes, especially against elderly and women, won't to tolerated! I guess girls don't count! Is he forgetting about his own past transgressions? Keetle meet black! Of course this was met with "yeahs" and "Right ons" by the hosts. This city will become more lawless as long as its leaders promote the same lifestyle they are trying to stop. Melton is using some of the same stupid "gang-like" tatics to fight these criminals. What do you expect? You have to play smarter then the criminals, not stoop to their level, which is what Melton and gang are doing. Having posses, and using your gun as your strength are nothing but signs of an inscure person that is guided by paranoia. How some of our supposed "smart" officials support this is beyond me. It.is.not.working.

Author

pikersam

Date

2006-06-16T10:18:24-06:00

ID

173408

Comment

This excerpt from the C-L editorial on Saturday sums up my feelings about crime in the capitol city: The roots of Jackson crime lie in deep-seated problems with the criminal justice system: - Police resources. Jackson still is more than 100 officers under the recommended force level. - Jail space. There is no place to lock up minor, and some major, offenders. There is no fear of punishment. - Prosecution. There are not enough prosecutors nor is there effective case management. There must be cooperation. - Courts. There are not enough cases being handled by judges. We need more judges and judges who put in more time on the bench. - Prevention. The most difficult. The dropout and irresponsible parenting problems continue to provide a steady crop of new, young criminals.

Author

jeff lucas

Date

2006-06-17T14:59:46-06:00

ID

173409

Comment

One question, why don't we have a damn summit on crime. Get Melton, the judges, DA, Sheriff, MCC or whatever it is now, MBN, and work out a damn integrated plan. There is no damn coordination and no plan at all. nothing.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2006-06-17T17:06:19-06:00

ID

173410

Comment

Jh a good idea but then he might have to listen and we know that doesn't work. Plan JPD had one but when Moore left so did the plan and he says he is not a politician.

Author

jada

Date

2006-06-17T18:27:40-06:00

ID

173411

Comment

I've just moved into the area and have only been here for 22 days. I'm from south Louisiana and lived about 45-50 minutes southwest of New Orleans. I have been a bit skeptical as to the seriousness of the reported crime wave. After all, I have no past real life experience in which to base the present situation. However, I must admit that your mayor has caused me to avoid Jackson. Whether real or perceived, the image of the city is one that leaves me thinking of scenes of New Orleans post Katrina and the real crime wave that emerged and thus the authentic need for a declaration of martial law. Outside looking in, this situation appears to be one that is mostly politically motivated and economically disturbing. Is this fear mongering or is there legitimate need for drastic action? If it is the latter, the drastic action needs to be sold a hell of a lot better than it I now. I believe that crime statistics are absolutely relative. If you have 7 homicides this year, and 14 the following, homicides are up by a whopping 50%. How does the long run state of crime in the city compare to past Jackson and other comparable cities along the same time period. Only after that comparison would I feel comfortable being fearful or not of going to Jackson to spend my money. I ask... is this as bad as it is reported to be? Thanks in advance for any comments that can help an outsider understand. Brent K.

Author

Brent K

Date

2006-07-15T11:51:41-06:00

ID

173412

Comment

Brent, crime is sensationalized here and has been forever for political (and racist) reasons. We have a lot of poverty in Jackson, and along with it the crime that comes with. We are struggling with the causes of poverty and crime, and have a ways to go. But as someone who has lived in bigger cities, I can tell you that you can feel very safe in Jackson shopping, living, walking, enjoying urban life. I love it here. Obviously, you can be a victim of crime here or in any big city. My biggest advice to you to not try to buy drugs, and the odds of something happening to you are very small, certainly smaller than the risk of car accident commuting back and forth to the suburbs. As for comparisons, we've done very telling stories and comparisons in the past and will this year when there are good numbers to use for it (the Comstat numbers are raw, and can give trend indications, as well as info about where crime-fighting resources should go week to week, but little more). Go to our CrimeBlog for an archive of stories (down the right side). Here's an example of one we did a while back that shows how the media and politicians (including the one who is now mayor) manipulated past successes to scare people: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=2082_0_4_0_C

Author

ladd

Date

2006-07-17T11:29:11-06:00

ID

173413

Comment

Civil rights violated again -- "Man shot in head dies; 2 taken into custody" - CL

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-21T10:27:19-06:00

ID

173414

Comment

Not making sense colby... got a point?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-21T10:37:35-06:00

ID

173415

Comment

Yeah, I'm confused, too. Please clarify your point, colby.

Author

ladd

Date

2007-03-21T11:38:28-06:00

ID

173416

Comment

Yes, please clarify. Otherwise, I don't see how a man dying and two men being arrested for his death construes a violation of rights.

Author

golden eagle '97

Date

2007-03-21T11:52:36-06:00

ID

173417

Comment

Does a person not have the right to live? If said person is killed by another person does that not violate his/her civil rights?

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-21T12:40:01-06:00

ID

173418

Comment

Well, obviously. But that seems to be the least of their problems at that point. Again, your post isn't making any sense to me. Are you being sarcastic or something? (Does remind me of the 1960s in Mississippi where the *only* way to bring charges against the men in Neshoba County who killed Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner and get them prison time was by charging the mob members with violating their civil rights in federal court. I always found that mighty ironic.) I will take this to another place by suggesting that I believe it is much more likely that someone become a person who doesn't value other people's lives (or rights) when their own have long been devalued. This is one thing that worries me so much about Melton's approach to "crime-fighting"—that he could actually be creating criminals by his stupidity such as allegedly tearing down buildings with sledgehammers. I'm sure he's teaching Evans Welch, the people in the neighborhood and the young men riding along onth eCommand Center some mighty fine lessons about valuing the rights and lives of others.

Author

ladd

Date

2007-03-21T15:13:36-06:00

ID

173419

Comment

You're right. Its Melton's fault.

Author

colby

Date

2007-03-21T15:34:14-06:00

ID

173420

Comment

I didn't say that. You're using some interesting reading comprehension, colby, for someone who made such an obtuse point in the first place. Tip: Try to do more than read every third word.

Author

ladd

Date

2007-03-21T15:46:41-06:00