Jackson Free Press

Sept. 25, 2008

OXFORD—I sat down with Oxford Police Chief Mike Martin this morning to talk about his preparations for the debate and how his officers have responded to uncertainty. He wouldn't say exactly how many additional officers he's put on duty, citing security concerns, but he confirmed that he has "a good many" officers working overtime.

"All of our personnel are on duty or they're at home asleep from being on the job," he said. "If you're sick, you just work sick."

Martin says that the department is shouldering all overtime and other costs associated with the debate. "It comes out of my budget," he said. "I don't get reimbursed for it or anything. I think the way the city looks at it, through the extra people in town, the motel-hotel tax, food tax, tourism tax, they expect to recoup some money."

Oxford has hosted the King of Jordan and Prince Edward of Great Britain, Martin said, but the debate is the biggest event he's seen here in his 25 years with the police department.

John McCain's announcement that he wanted to postpone the debate caused some initial confusion, but the department is operating under the assumption that it will take place as scheduled. "When the news hit, my phone lit up," Martin said. "It was all, 'What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do now?'"

Martin said that the department has canceled "a few details" for today but would not specify what events they were related to.

As I was leaving, I told him that I hoped, for the city's sake, that the debate takes place as planned. "You and me both," he replied. "I hope we don't drag this out any longer than we have to."

Previous Comments

ID

138201

Comment

Is the McCain campaign going to reimburse the police overtime?

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-09-25T11:01:47-06:00