Jackson Free Press

In December, the Public Eye made a public records request for "The Jackson Police Department's most current plan for fighting crime. If parts are unreleasable, state why and provide releasable portions of plan."

Police Chief Shirlene Anderson has been at work on a plan for many months now, but when Councilman Marshand Crisler asked Anderson to share details of the plan with City Council on Dec. 20, Anderson refused, saying that this would tip off criminals.

Mayor Frank Melton made a similar argument in June, when he refused to share the crime fighting plan with Councilman Leslie McLemore.

"No sir, I will not share with you (the plan)," Melton said. "It makes no sense whatsoever to tell the bad guys how you're going to deal with them, and that's a mistake that we've made (in the past)."

In light of these previous refusals, I wondered whether the city would refuse to release the crime fighting plan, which is why the language in the records request is somewhat torturous. Today, however, the city responded, releasing a two-page crime fighting plan (PDF, 550KB).

The plan is in the form of a general order, outlining crime prevention priorities, the role of the office of community affairs, the role of precinct commanders and the role of individual officers. It's all perfectly reasonable stuff--right up to the minute you see the bottom of that second page.

Jackson's "most current plan for fighting crime" was signed by Chief Robert Moore on July 1, 2004.

Previous Comments

ID

90823

Comment

Once again, the crime plan is CIA-styled secretive in order to not warn, spook, alert, or aid the criminals. To produce it in all its glory, majesty and critical thought is tantamount to burning down all the jails, firing all the polices, and running off all the judges. We gotta trust the experts to stop crime and make us safe. Either they know what they're doing or we do. Since we're not certifed police officers I suggest we defer to the experts. We don't realize how good we have it. We furthermore don't have any idea of the amount of crime thwarted, diverted and prevented as we sleep and go about our business affairs on a daily and nightly basis. Neither, do we have any idea of the extent of covert operations in place to ensure and preserve our freedom, liberty, happiness, safety and life that the true experts are too modest and humble to even admit or claim credit for. The Crime Fighting plan just released confirms what I have been saying all along. And Frankly my comrades, I'm with the mayor and Shirlene 110%.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-01-11T15:35:43-06:00

ID

90824

Comment

If I wern't so contrarily hopeful and desperate to see something to help us, I would believe that Frank and Shirlene are reading and believing my bullcrap written concerning their crime plan.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-01-11T15:57:07-06:00

ID

90825

Comment

This looks like a copy from the JPD Employee Handbook to me...

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-01-11T16:12:56-06:00

ID

90826

Comment

The crime plan reminded me of a kid in my highschool who always cheated on test. He was so slow that he would actually copy the name off of the paper he was stealing answere from. My point is this: Why didn't they change a few words, add a few things, change the date and have Sherline Anderson sign it. Chief Moore has been gone for quite some time now. It is time for them to have their own pot to pi$$ in.

Author

justjess

Date

2007-01-11T16:17:06-06:00

ID

90827

Comment

PS: DUMBNESS DOES NOT RECOGNIZE ITSELF

Author

justjess

Date

2007-01-11T16:18:43-06:00

ID

90828

Comment

GAH! Jess, I didn't even notice it was sighned by Chief Moore. I just thought it looked like a couple of pages from an employee handbook. I feel like a doofus.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-01-11T16:30:36-06:00

ID

90829

Comment

Yes, Havoc. When I first looked at it, I thought: This isn't really a plan, now is it? Then I saw how old it was and it became too ridiculous. This is very like the police department's Web site, which has been under construction since this administration took office. Or am I supposed to be looking at this page? It has helpful crime stats and even maps by precinct showing where crimes occur. But wait! That's also from 2005, i.e. the last administration.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-01-11T16:59:43-06:00

ID

90830

Comment

Ray, your lovely satire reminds me of something Melton actually said, as quoted in our summer story on this subject, Fighting Crime: What's the Plan?. “My plan, essentially, instead of making it a 15-page something that nobody’s going to read, is put the criminals in jail, make sure the kids are in structured programs, no loitering around any of our businesses, and helping to fund the county with its efforts on the county farm,” Melton said last week. “The plan is real simple if you’ll follow the emergency order,” which he calls “a major part of the plan.” God forbid that we ask our police administrators to read, much less develop a "15-page" plan, eh? And there is this, which certainly looks different now than it did when we first printed it: Melton says his plan puts a huge emphasis upon children, however—pointing to a lawn-service team he is assembling of young men from Wood Street and surrounding areas. The youths, with some as young as 12, are going along with Melton on his street “raids” in the Mobile Command Center as well. ... I guess that part of the "plan" didn't work out so well, did it?

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-01-11T17:12:08-06:00

ID

90831

Comment

"For Chrst sakes...just leave the man alone and 'let' him do his job."

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-01-11T17:22:12-06:00

ID

90832

Comment

"Ma'am... what about the plan?" Chief Anderson: "Like I've told you for a year and a half, 'NO COMMENT'!!!"

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-01-11T17:29:00-06:00

ID

90833

Comment

I have one suggestion to the Chief and Melton to help fight crime in one of the simplest ways possible: Have someone actually answer calls to 911. Has anyone else been noticed the complaints that people can't get through?

Author

thabian

Date

2007-01-11T17:45:40-06:00

ID

90834

Comment

Rudy G. was on TV last night discussing the Pres. speech. Somehow the subject came back to his leadership in NYC and crime. The talking head said, "You took a lot of heat for the methods you used to curb crime NYC?" Rudy replied, that he did... "BUT, without more officers on the street and my COMSTAT reports, we couldn't have done to job we did." He didn't trot out his "broken windows" theory that all the local crime experts like to throw at us. He didn't mention a lot of things. My point, like Rudy G. or not, he said the two basic things he needed were the weekly COMSTAT reports and boots on the street. Those are the TWO things Melton immediately threw out the window when he came into office! Hello!?! COMSTAT gone for all practical purposes! Police ranks go from almost 500 to the lower 400's that it is today in less than a year! Hello!?! He is making people like McCreery, who "worked" with Rudy G. in NYC, and SafeCity look like fools while he has his crew running around town emboldening the criminals! I've heard from a friend in law enforcement that the folks committing the crimes, and selling the drugs are more open with it than ever before. They act as if nothing will happen while there is no shortage of drugs available. It's a regular heyday for those who want to do wrong in Jackson right now - more so than ever! I have to wonder why it is worth all this mayhem to the small handful of people who are profiting from having Melton as mayor?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-01-11T18:21:49-06:00

ID

90835

Comment

I have one suggestion to the Chief and Melton to help fight crime in one of the simplest ways possible: Have someone actually answer calls to 911. Has anyone else been noticed the complaints that people can't get through? thabian Yeah, and then they tax our phones a little more in the name of "911 operations" so they can give Larry Fisher a $2400 year raise, and buy a new communication system at an over inflated price. Did anyone notice the price was a million or so higher than last year when they tried to ram the system down our throats? And what was the competitions bid? God forbid they actually pay the 911 operators a decent wage and provide a better work environment so they don't take the training they receive from Hinds to go work in Rankin. Nope, that would be tooo progressive and smart for them Supervisors! Oh yeah, and Jackson may actually gain some benefits from improved 911 operations, and Doug Anderson and gang can't be having that!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-01-11T18:30:34-06:00

ID

90836

Comment

hmmm............drug dealers go up, no major drug busts by JPD, number of cops go down....................... great for someone who is making money off of selling drugs or aiding those who do.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-01-11T18:30:55-06:00

ID

90837

Comment

I think Marshand really wanted Chief Shirlene's Plan, not Moore's. But then she doesn't have a clue, does she?

Author

Ironghost

Date

2007-01-11T19:37:08-06:00

ID

90838

Comment

"Somethin' got to be did..."

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-01-11T19:49:24-06:00

ID

90839

Comment

I think Marshand really wanted Chief Shirlene's Plan, not Moore's. But then she doesn't have a clue, does she? She obviously doesn't have a plan either. *rolls eyes*

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2007-01-11T22:00:02-06:00

ID

90840

Comment

This is damn crazy. Also, per the probation/Melton thread, why was Anderson giving Melton the way and means and presumably permission to violate his bond/probation. It is time to fire the chief, pure and simple. This whole administraiton is a farce, but she's a good place to start on the housecleaning. People, we've got to get real here.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-01-11T23:41:37-06:00

ID

90841

Comment

You can't make this $h!t up. Absolutely incredible. If Chief Moore were as incompetent, ineffective and deceptive as the Meltonites made him out to be, why in God's name would they now present Moore's plan as if it were their own. This IS *bat$hit crazy*, to borrow a phrase so eloquently coined by a JFP regular. Bejezzus, I simply must agree: something's got to be did. Something is *bad wrong* with this. Stop dirinking the koolaid and come to your senses, *peoples*!

Author

Kacy

Date

2007-01-12T00:55:47-06:00

ID

90842

Comment

If Chief Moore were as incompetent, ineffective and deceptive as the Meltonites made him out to be, why in God's name would they now present Moore's plan as if it were their own. And not only does that make it obvious that Moore was much more competent than the Meltonites tried to make him look, it also highlights their own incompetence...not to mention their obvious contempt for the Council and the voters: just how dumb do they think we are?

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2007-01-12T08:11:12-06:00

ID

90843

Comment

It all comes back to accountability. We are a year and a half into this administration, and during the last year, there has been a remarkable surge in crime. As citizens, we naturally ask, "What is our elected government going to do to address this problem?" Their answer is ... well, what is it? Am I being too flip when I suggest that their "plan" is to send Mr. Melton out in the Mobile Command Center? That's the way Mr. Melton has put it in the past. His youth plan was the lawn crew, at least until the Ridgeway incident. Members of this administration become indignant when citizens or City Council members ask for a plan, but can you imagine the howling had Chief Moore had this attitude? "I don't have to tell you the plan because that would help the criminals." They can't possibly think Jacksonians are that dumb.

Author

Brian C Johnson

Date

2007-01-12T10:16:08-06:00

ID

90844

Comment

Tim, Chief Moore wasn't incompetent. In fact, he had a good plan and was implementing it. It was working. What ruined it were political politics against the last mayor, and pitiful media coverage and sensationalism led by The Clarion-Ledger (especially their concocted Perception-Gate™). I've said before, and I'll keep saying it: That corporate newspaper owes this city and this state a HUGE apology for not telling the real story about Melton (or their role in his lies in Meridian) during the campaign. It is irresponsible journalism at its most irresponsible. The only way to begin to redeem would be a mea culpa and a big community apology—but that won't happen. They don't have the class to do that.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-01-12T10:38:48-06:00

ID

90845

Comment

at least in New Orleans they marched on City Hall yesterday raising hell. here they would rather accuse you of being against the mayor and pro crime. Attention folks at MP: You can be against the mayor and still anti crime.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-01-12T10:50:44-06:00

ID

90846

Comment

I've said before, and I'll keep saying it: That corporate newspaper owes this city and this state a HUGE apology for not telling the real story about Melton (or their role in his lies in Meridian) during the campaign. And don't forget the bald-faced lies they were simultaneously telling about Harvey Johnson!

Author

Tim Kynerd

Date

2007-01-12T13:58:25-06:00

ID

90847

Comment

Attention folks at MP: You can be against the mayor and still anti crime. Of course you can. Only a fool who can't (or won't think) would argue otherwise.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-01-12T14:50:57-06:00

ID

90848

Comment

"You're trying to protect tht THUGS....."

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2007-01-12T16:18:03-06:00