Jackson Free Press

The events of Dec. 21 make plain what happens when you give power to the undeserving. Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon said Mayor Frank Melton and two of his bodyguards pulled up behind her car as she drove to work and blasted his police siren while riding her bumper.

Minutes later, she said she saw Melton and two of his three bodyguards, Nathaniel Rushing and Michael Recio, exiting the parked vehicle. It was at this point that Melton allegedly told Barrett-Simon that Recio had blown the horn because she was one of the council members who had voted to reduce Recio's assistant chief wages from about $70,000 to about $40,000, after hearing of the promotion's civil service problems.

Barrett-Simon likened the incident to an intimidation tactic—even as The Clarion-Ledger reduced it to a mere "prankԗbut it's a tactic that would never have happened had Melton not wielded undeserved power. Somebody gave the mayor a Chrysler 300 with blacked-out windows and a police-issue siren with which to torment small, skinny women, and anyone else he cares to. Somebody also gave Melton over-priced bodyguards who like to act childish. Melton does not do moronic tough-guy things when he's alone, only when he's got armed friends by his side.

Those friends are expensive. Melton had three bodyguards at the time of The Great Horning. The Jackson Free Press has no idea how much these three make. The city had no figures to release on their 2007 wages this December, though Melton told The Clarion-Ledger this month that Recio's overtime and wages could be more than his $70,000 assistant chief's salary.

The city of Jackson is facing a very real shortage of cops. We need at least 600—we have about 400. These three would better serve the city out on patrol than harassing councilwomen. Chief McMillin acknowledged the shortage, and is re-distributing some officers, including Rushing, whom he transferred back to the police department last week. There could be more transfers soon, he said.

Soon needs to be now. It is time to end Melton's bodyguard games. McMillin should immediately transfer the two remaining bodyguards to other posts within JPD. Then after an investigation of whether Melton truly needs "protection," McMillin should rotate officers with no history with the mayor—sledgehammers or otherwise—in and out of that assignment.

This is what a good, independent police chief would do without blinking under these disturbing circumstances. We trust that McMillin will be that police chief and do what is right for the city.

Previous Comments

ID

75821

Comment

I totally agree, why should these men continue to get special treatment. Why should the mayor get special treatment. He should get just as much protection as the citizens of Jackson. Thumbs up for this article.

Author

classy

Date

2008-01-02T19:51:55-06:00

ID

75822

Comment

The Clarion-Ledger just posted a big, front-page story about old news from last week: that McMillin has re-assigned Nathaniel Rushing off the bodyguard contingent. This was in our editorial that came out yesterday (that we wrote last Friday after Adam found out about Rushing's transfer), and voila, today it's front page over there. It's remarkable how long it takes such a rich newspaper to find out about stuff.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-01-03T15:23:31-06:00

ID

75823

Comment

Come on now people! Frank is our mayor and is reportedly "fighting crime like we've never seen it before." When you're running off drug dealers and other hoodlums/criminals faster than the media can take note and count, somebody probably wants to harm you. If the president can have a secret service, Airforce 1, 2, etc., and an occasional intern, why can't our mayor have 3 bodyguards? Just asking!

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2008-01-03T17:38:18-06:00

ID

75824

Comment

Well Ray I say all the protection he needs is that 6 shooter on his hip, a buggy and two horses, so he can ride off into the sunset. (LOL)

Author

classy

Date

2008-01-03T18:15:38-06:00

ID

75825

Comment

The last thing little frankie needs is a gun. Maybe a squirt-gun, but not a real gun. He is an idiot when when comes to the safe handling and use of firearms.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2008-01-03T20:58:39-06:00