Jackson Free Press

This story will appear in the print edition on March 7, 2007.

The Jackson City Council criticized Police Chief Shirlene Anderson's crime plan and demanded action on unconfirmed department heads at a March 6 special council meeting. The council spent the first hour of the meeting addressing Anderson's "Comprehensive Crime Reduction Plan," which the chief presented with help from Chief Administrative Officer Robert Walker. "This is a draft," Walker cautioned. "This is not the fine-tuned document we intend to have before you in a few weeks."

Anderson's plan, a series of introductory goals laid out in line-item fashion, calls for heavy enforcement of city ordinances, neighborhood saturation by police officers, an emphasis on the citizen police academy and an increase of the police force, eventually bringing the ranks up to a 600 head count requested by the 1999 Linder-Maple Study.

The plan also calls for a strategic pay increase that the city "will phase in over a three-year period," Walker said.

The council spent the majority of the discussion pushing Anderson to release crime statistics, stalled for months under the new administration after it became clear that major crime figures were persistently rising under Mayor Frank Melton.

"Neighborhood associations need these statistics," said Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon. "They decide the success of any partnership between the police and the neighborhood associations. (People) should be able to look up and see the crime in the ward there. Right now, they're not able to get them. I would hope that would be a No. 1 priority (in the plan)."

Anderson said she would provide crime numbers to the neighborhood associations through the city's Web site but said she did not intend to use ComStat. She also could not name when she expected the new system to be online.

"I can't give you a time frame on it," Anderson told the council, after a direct question from Ward 6 Councilman Marshand Crisler.

Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes called it "a good plan," adding that the city paid the Linder-Maple Group almost $100,000 to come up with a similar plan.

Council President Ben Allen, however, was caustic about the crime plan. "What we've got here is three sheets of bulletins. We're reading that we need to address police pay, but there's no 'how' or 'when,'" Allen said. "After a draft is done you've got to say what we have, this is how we're going to do it, and this is when we're going to do it. Make sense?"

Allen also criticized the idea of posting crime statistics on the city's Web site, ragging the current Web site as a poorly designed waste of money.

Anderson said she would present a more thorough plan to the council in two weeks, but Allen remained dubious. "We'll see," he said.

The council then passed a resolution declaring the intent of the council to confirm all interim or acting department directors within 120 days. Councilman Frank Bluntson was the only member to vote against that resolution and another that called on Melton to present Interim Fire Chief Todd Chandler for confirmation. Chandler has served unconfirmed for more than 18 months, and Councilman Leslie McLemore, among others, has described this as an attempt to usurp City Council's confirmation power.

For months, Allen attempted to keep executive/legislative battles out of the press, and maintained a tight relationship with the mayor, so much so that before Melton underwent heart surgery, he ducked proper channels and told Allen via e-mail to take over his position should he be incapacitated by heart surgery in Texas. Allen released the e-mail in response to a strongly worded JFP records request last week.

Allen stood with McLemore, Crisler and Barrett-Simon in favoring the resolutions, and Allen has vowed to take the issue to court if the mayor does not comply.

McLemore said he would prefer the matter simply go through the court system than take up more of council's time. "We need a living wage for construction workers working for the city, we need decent education for our young folk, we need work training for our young people. We have so many issues facing this city, but I'm spending so much of my time with a mayor who doesn't want to follow the rule of law. This is too distracting, so let's go to court so we can resolve these issues. … I don't want to talk about this man who doesn't want to confirm his department heads because he thinks they won't be confirmed. What kind of cra—" McLemore declared, before stopping himself.

"Well, we have a lot of issues to deal with."

Previous Comments

ID

67498

Comment

The new cityofjacksonms.org is up in running at least

Author

jd

Date

2007-03-06T23:13:42-06:00

ID

67499

Comment

You are way over your head Shirlene! Being the non-drug evidence custodian at MBN headquarters was much easier no? You didn't have to write reports. Just like when you interviewed "Smiley." What I mean is you had the interview video taped but no one followed that up with a written report - investigations 101. The chickens are coming home! Larry.

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-06T23:21:40-06:00

ID

67500

Comment

Oh, you have got to love the "History of Jackson" page! The year 1985 marked a change in the form of government in Jackson. During a special election, in the fall of 1984, citizens voted to replace the three-man commission, with the mayor and commissioners elected at large, to a mayor-council form of government. The process allows for the mayor to be elected at-large and seven council members elected from wards. In 2005, Jackson voters overwhelmingly elected Frank Melton as Mayor in his first bid to elective office. City Council Members include Ben Allen, Ward 1; Leslie Burl McLemore, Ward 2; Kenneth I. Stokes, Ward 3; Frank Bluntson, Ward 4; Charles Tillman, Ward 5; Marshand K. Crisler, Ward 6; and Margaret C. Barrett-Simon, Ward 7. Wow, I guess nothing happened between Danks and Melton's terms?!? WHAT AN EGOMANIC!!!!! But, if you are worried about Frank's health you can send him a "Get Well Card" BTW: They web masters had time to add a "Get Well Frank" link to the old City of Jackson website before this one went live. So, let's get to work and edit this site right! We spent a good chunk of change on this puppy! I think a newpaper is missing from the News and Media list for the City of Jackson!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-06T23:30:11-06:00

ID

67501

Comment

Stunning! In all of Mayor Melton’s public service in Mississippi he has never accepted a per diem or salary for his work. His commitment has always been in identifying solutions and moving forward towards progress, without regard to race, special interests or political affiliation. Welcome to the Bahamas! Let's go to Napa Valley! Dallas and Miami too! NYC! Can you name which place actually involved City business? That's right! NYC! When he went to sit in with Mayor Bloomberg's Gun Conference. Stars for everyone! Yes, Dallas may be correct too! We never heard from that billionaire did we? Yo, Ben check this out! SORE Activities of the Office of the City Attorney include advising the Mayor, Chief Administrative Officer, City Council, department directors, and other City employees; prosecuting misdemeanor complaints; attending City Council meetings and serving as legal counsel during such meetings; supporting the legislative and administrative processes involving ordinances, litigation, contracts, legal research, legal opinions, and liens; and representing and defending the City's legal interests and rights before all courts, legislative and administrative tribunals. Suck It Council!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-06T23:44:42-06:00

ID

67502

Comment

I agree Larry. She seems to be way in over her head. Just watching her clips on TV last night, and from being around her, she lacks the leadership characteristics and manner for her position.

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-07T08:16:15-06:00

ID

67503

Comment

Well, one key to attracting more officers is money, no doubt. But, an equally important factor is professionalism. Can this Administration and this Chief claim professionalism?

Author

ChrisCavanaugh

Date

2007-03-07T08:52:32-06:00

ID

67504

Comment

You're right, Pike. There is a newspaper missing from that list. But I'd rather see the staff of the JFP continue to do their job and make people see the truth than see their name on some list on the city government's website. :)

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-07T09:09:03-06:00

ID

67505

Comment

Oh, and as for Shirlene: Frank's in the hospital. She can't give more than a rough draft until he tells her what to write. She's flying blind here.

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2007-03-07T09:10:18-06:00

ID

67506

Comment

Shirlene should send Melton thank you note for taking her off the front page. Like Anna Smith did for the astronaut in diapers who went biatsh!t crazy! It's all about timing!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-03-07T16:52:10-06:00

ID

67507

Comment

Pike, You make a valid point. The problem is Shirlene would need help writing the "thank you" note. A crime plan is not that difficult to write..............there are literally hundreds of them out there...........get a "go-bye" from a similar city in size and with similar crime issues..............cut, paste, then spend a few days going over the document so you can answer all City Council questions and poof on to the next issue. Another problem that JPD has is it basically has no intelligence unit. Most police departments the size of Jackson would have at least a 10-12 person unit. It would be these individuals that would ultimately write the crime plan then "send it up the chain" for review. Once finished the Chief would, like I said spend a few days becoming familiar with his/her own plan. Regards, Larry.

Author

Larry

Date

2007-03-07T17:14:01-06:00