Jackson Free Press

Octoboer 17, 2007

On Monday, the Jackson City Council halted Mayor Frank Melton's scheme to use drug-seizure money to fund recent police salary raises. The administration proposed taking $192,101 from the $400,000 drug-forfeiture fund to preserve the Jackson Police Department finance division—which the approved 2008 budget dissolves—and to pay for more than $40,000 in combined salary increases for Melton's bodyguards Michael Recio and Marcus Wright.

The money would also finance a pay raise for 25-year JPD veteran Lt. Gerald Jones, who will be transferring from the impound lot to the JPD cold-case unit, and would partially fund the creation of a $27,473 city impound lot position for Melton campaign supporter Ardell Stone, who will transfer from the city Department of Parks and Recreation.

A majority of council members are still leery over the budget transfer, which came on the heels of a state auditor's opinion describing that particular use of the money as illegal. The administration said State Auditor Phil Bryant later approved the use of the money after an "hour and a half" meeting with administration officials.
"The buzzword in the document is 'any law enforcement activities,'" said Administration Director Rick Hill. "It can be used for any legitimate law enforcement activity. The city did request an attorney general's opinion on this several years ago and I will provide that to the council."

Members say they want to see the revised opinion on paper before putting the item to a vote."We've been informed by the auditor's office that we can (use the money the way the mayor wants to) … but I want to see it in writing," said Council President Leslie McLemore. "I just don't have the confidence. I suggest we have another council meeting scheduled for (next) Tuesday. … Bring us a copy of the opinion from the city auditor."

Ward 1 Councilman Jeff Weill said he would consider the agenda item if the administration would attach a 90-day sunset clause, automatically ending the appropriation without further council intervention. "I like the idea of the 90-day sunset. … I would support this proposal if we could enshrine it in the proposal that it would expire in 90 days," Weill said.

Melton said he agreed with the sunset clause, though the issue of the funding contains more than one dispute. Some council members say the mayor's decision to appoint his two bodyguards to positions of sergeant and assistant chief is causing animosity and morale problems within the JPD ranks.

Twelve-year veteran Det. Juan Cloy, president of the Jackson Police Officers Association—and former Melton ally—joined other members of the union recently in criticizing the mayor's decision to promote the two bodyguards. He said many other officers on the force are more qualified for the two positions, and added that the mayor bucked procedure in reassigning the two.

Melton stuck to his guns late Tuesday, telling members of the union that the department needed less emphasis on experience.

Melton argued to the council Monday that his promotion of Recio and Wright is within procedure, and named off what he considered sufficient past examples.

"I don't know the (Council's) agenda here, but you can look at Rebecca Coleman (who went) from a sergeant to a deputy chief, Bracy Coleman (who went) from a sergeant to a deputy chief, to assistant chief, to chief. You can look at Edna Drake (who went) from a sergeant in the juvenile division to deputy chief, and it just goes on and on. They've done this historically for years," Melton told reporters Monday.

Crisler said Melton's examples, if correct, do not apply to Recio's situation.

"Michael Recio has not, by my understanding, been officially promoted to sergeant. He's an acting sergeant, but he has not taken any (promotion) exams. … To keep the department from … chaos, it's good to put some type of promotional policy in place. … I don't think you want to get into that good ole boy system: 'I like you, so you can come on up the ranks.'"

Cloy said last week that the two bodyguards were still patrolmen in the eyes of their fellow officers until they pass their promotion exams.

Melton told the Jackson Free Press Monday that he had been unaware of the tentative nature of Recio's and Wright's current status as mayoral-appointed employees until the Council told him Monday. Still, Melton was unmoved by the news, and does not see Recio's re-assignment as an arbitrary promotion of a patrol officer to assistant chief.

"I'll say this, and maybe this will be the end of it," he told the council. "At the end of the day, the council's job is to set policy. My job is to deal with personnel, and that's the way it is, and that's the way it's going to be. I'll deal with personnel. You all deal with policy."

That will not likely be the end of it. McLemore's next statement was a barely contained display of the council's final power over the city checkbook.

"Ah, so what we're going to do is hold this item until next week, and you and Mr. Hill can get together and bring back the (auditor) opinions and the 90-day sunset (clause)," McLemore said.

Some council members are determined to block the proposed pay raises for Recio and Wright, and did not bother to mask their interest in either the city's claims or payroll deductions items on the special meeting agenda—prepared, perhaps, to cut the line item containing either of the raises.

Previous Comments

ID

68146

Comment

"Melton stuck to his guns late Tuesday, telling members of the union that the department needed less emphasis on experience.' Oh man! Isn't that the mantra of mayorship!!!!

Author

LawClerk

Date

2007-10-18T06:24:55-06:00

ID

68147

Comment

From today's Ledge article: Detective Juan Cloy, president of the Jackson Police Officers Association, said it would adversely affect the 410-officer department. "A lot of the officers and detectives are required to work overtime," Cloy said. "A lot of officers will not work overtime when the shifts are short, and it's a danger to the public and to the safety of the officers. "Some departments use it as a recruiting tool. A lot of people figure 'x' amount of overtime in their incomes. And at most departments in the United States, you can work overtime." Cloy said the policy also would hurt the department's chances of increasing the number of JPD officers to 500 by the end of December. Rookies' starting pay is about $24,000 annually. If Det. Cloy actually thinks we can hire almost 90 officers in less than two months, then he must be taking the same med's as Melton? We have about 10 - 15 recruits in the class about to graduate, and that was after they weeded out a bunch of recruits. I tell ya' the more he talks the more he sounds like a part of Melton's grand plan... whatever the end goal is... If they think this is how you go about getting the raises Melton promised you, you are not fooling the public, nor should more money come out of our pockets until Mayor Melton is gone - long gone! Help get rid of Melton, get a new chief, and then the people may be more willing to pay a mil to get you the needed raises you deserve - because you guys do need to be better paid, that is not the issue. But, there is work the regular beat officer needs to improve upon to so this will be a win/win for everyone. I am tired of hearing about cops offering security systems to victims as they hand them a case card and business card! I am tired of cops telling people to move, and/or how bad the department is when they are taking a report. I am tired of cops abusing innocent civilians right, like the ACLU guy, or myself when I was shouted down by a cop when I reported suspicious behavior at an abandoned home near mine because when they arrived I actually wanted to KNOW what was going on. It's like they don't realize that WE pay their salary. It's not some magical cop money tree that we go to for money to pay you guys. BTW: Does anyone think 90 rookie officers in three months are anyway to fix and develop a police department of our size. That would mean that almost 1/5th of the police force are rookies. What a SafeCity we live in!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-10-18T08:44:09-06:00

ID

68148

Comment

OK folks, maybe I'm missing something. If the pot has $400,000 and frank is going to use one half of that amount to fund his illegal, unethical, slap in the face promotions, where will the money come from to continue the payments? In other words, there have been no post arrangements for continuity of the salary increases. Will these men have to go out and conficate drug money every year to support their salaries or better still, will these be extra burdens for tax payers when again the budget is not balanced? Just ASKING?????????

Author

justjess

Date

2007-10-18T09:13:34-06:00

ID

68149

Comment

Charles Evers was back on melton's case last evening. He said that he had talked with Danks and they both agreed that maelton was making a mistake in these appointments. He also said that Danks asked him to talk to frank about his attitude towards the citizens of the City. Evers again called melton arrogant "with less sense than a GOAT." Charles asked melton, "Where are all of the high profile, wealthy White folks who stood by you and put all of that money in your election?" Evers' assessment was that all of these folks are GONE. He then asked melton to do us a favor, "GO TO THE COURT HOUSE AND RESIGN!"

Author

justjess

Date

2007-10-18T09:28:15-06:00

ID

68150

Comment

Darn, Justjess. Frank is losing people faster than the titantic. Frank isn't going to accept that criticism without fighting back though. I expect Evers and Danks to be cursed out.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-10-18T09:52:44-06:00

ID

68151

Comment

It will be hard to replenish those drug money funds if you aren't arresting and putting away any drug dealers!

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-10-18T10:55:52-06:00