Jackson Free Press

No, that's not a typo, at least not on our part. The chief's office sent that e-mail with that exact subject line today. Here's the rest of the e-mail, verbatim:

Chief Shirlene Anderson wishes the residents of Jackson, a happy and safe holiday!

The July 4th Holiday is a time of great celebration and family fun, unfortunately this fun often turns into tragedy due to the unauthorized use of fireworks. Fireworks are incendiary devices which should only be used by an experienced professional under controlled conditions. Current drought conditions in the city of Jackson makes the use of such devices even more dangerous.

Please be advised JPD Officers will be patrolling in full force during the July 4th Holiday to help ensure the residents of Jackson have a safe, and injury free holiday. If you are aware of anyone engaging in the unsafe use of fireworks please contact The Jackson Police Department @ 601-960-1234.

So, anyone think she will ever start to hold regular press briefings like her predecessor? Ever?

Previous Commentsshow

Andersons? LOL x 1000!

LatashaWillis

Jul 3 2007

Dildo (sp?) and fireworks control. What a crime plan! Real cutting edge stuff "fo show".

Cliff Cargill

Jul 3 2007

Right, Cliff! A super tactical plan by JPD. They've got it all covered, from trolling for sexual devices all the way up to incendiary devices. Jackson ought to be crime-free real soon. And Ladd: If she holds a press conference, won't that mean that she'll have to...er...talk? And answer questions? Don't bet the paper on it!

Kacy

Jul 3 2007

Well, now that Melton is going to quit smoking (O RLY?) he expects all of us to quit smoking too! The arrogance is appalling! I'm sure many will support this. Yet, if Jackson joins the ranks of Starkville and Tupelo, that will mean that 3 of the States largest cities will not allow smoking. I'm sure more will want to follow. Not necessarily a bad thing. But... It's a good thing we haven't swapped grocery taxes for cigarette taxes just yet! Keep banning smoking and you cut your nose off to spite your face.

pikersam

Jul 3 2007

I don't think it will be long before the feds step in and ban smoking nationwide, anyway. I'm all for it. I hate going somewhere and coming out smelling like an ashtray. Even though I'm prone to bum a smoke from time to time... If Starkville can survive this, any town can. I can't tell you how nice it is to go out for a beer and to not come out of the place smelling like I just chain smoked a whole pack. People aren't going to quit going out, for sure. And the establishments even draw people that previously avoided them b/c of the smoke.

millhouse

Jul 4 2007

I wonder how many times she had to write that out with her crayons before it sounded right? She's just an idiot. Plain and simple. Can't speak. Can't write. And sure as hell can't fight crime.

Puck

Jul 5 2007

And the establishments even draw people that previously avoided them b/c of the smoke.-millhouse Agreed!

Izzy

Jul 5 2007

I wonder how many times she had to write that out with her crayons before it sounded right? She's just an idiot. Plain and simple. Everyone makes mistakes, Puck. But the issue here is that we have a chief who barely communicates with the public, who doesn't hold press briefings, who speaks nonsensically when the media asks her questions, and then we get a last-minute press release for July 4, and her name is mispelled in the subject line. We all know that it's not because they are working so hard that they don't have time to spellcheck, or look over their e-mails before they hit send. If they were, it would be a different story. As it is, it is just one more sign of the sad state of affairs in a police department in which Melton appointed a chief who would do his bidding and not challenge him. Both the fact that he did that, and that she goes along with it, is downright tragic. (Remember that horrifying scene I described of her cleaning up the kitchen in his house last April!?!) We need higher standards, and expectations, than this for all public officials. It is horrifying that Melton treats her like a maid, and one he doesn't respect, and she goes along with it. I cringe everytime I think about the message it sends to the citizens, and especially young people. I still can't get over the scrutiny that the Ledger et al. applied to the last chief compared to the scrutiny they put on this one. It's plain hypocrisy, and what an insult to this woman NOT to hold her to the same standards that other chiefs have been held to. Amazing. And tragic.

DonnaLadd

Jul 6 2007

Good post ladd!

pikersam

Jul 6 2007

Thanks, Pike. It is just horrifying to me to watch how Melton treats women—the police chief, D.A. and now Margaret Barrett-Simon. His treatment of Barrett-Simon has horrified a lot of people in North Jackson; I respectfully suggest that they apply the same standards to his treatment of these other two professional women who happen to be black. Of course, the big difference between the chief and the other two is that the chief enables him. The other two stand up to him. But still: the treatment of all three should horrify the public.

DonnaLadd

Jul 6 2007

"the treatment of all three should horrify the public" Ladd I believe I see a glimmer of hope in the tide of public opinion returning to some sanity. Mind you, its just a glimmer.

ChrisCavanaugh

Jul 6 2007

Agreed, Chris. And the silence from many of his loudest supporters (save people with enough self-esteem to admit when they're wrong like Jeff Good) is simply deafening. And you know what that means.

DonnaLadd

Jul 7 2007

Yes Ladd.. you don't hear 'Let Frank be Frank!!!' much anymore ( except maybe from FBI agents reassuring Margaret Barrett-Simon ) If this is the kind of man who isn't scared to raid a bar drunk after curfew with underage felons, I can't wait to see what's driving this obsession with sex toys - maybe this ends with a Ted Haggard style flameout...

Real Maxwell

Jul 8 2007

I wish I could remember the station and the news reporter who interviewed Tyrone Lewis when he made the statement: "We are going to have to LET mayor melton break some laws if you want to get rid of crime." This statement is priceless and should alert all of Hinds County to the type of leadership we will have if Lewis is elected Sheriff. melton is really trying to do a hatchet job to Faye Peterson. She doesn not deserve this!

justjess

Jul 9 2007