Jackson Free Press

Democratic Hinds County Sheriff candidate Tyrone Lewis says he wants more drug enforcement on the highways dividing the city of Jackson and Hinds County.

"The first thing I'll do (when elected) is get an audit of the department," Tyrone told a crowd of about 50 at this morning's Friday Forum at Koinonia Coffee House. "The second: I want to put together a drug unit to address drug trafficking in Jackson."

Lewis, who called illicit drug use "a serious issue in Hinds County," said interstates 20 and 55, which cut the county into four sections, are "major thoroughfares for drug trafficking." As sheriff he intends to "develop a team to bring aboard to hit the ground running" on interception work along those two major transportation routes.

"I want to intercept the drugs coming through Jackson and Hinds County," Lewis said. " Once we get a handle on that, we start focusing on the inner city, where the drug problems are. The key to crime anywhere is going to be drugs. Intercept those drugs and you'll see the benefit."

Lewis added that drug interceptions usually carry the benefit of raising county seizure revenue, thanks to automobiles and drug money in seized vehicles, which local authorities permanently confiscate if perpetrators are convicted. He said he would likely use the money for training and other safety expenses.

Current Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin did not immediately return calls for a response.

Lewis spent 28 years with the Jackson Police Department before assuming a temporary role as the department's chief after Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin left the position in 2009. While still serving as county sheriff, McMillin adopted a dual role as Jackson's police chief to help the city combat its crime issues and accusations of poor management under Shirlene Anderson, former-Mayor Frank Melton's appointed chief.

Now Lewis hopes to supplant McMillin a second time, this time in the Democratic primary Aug. 2. Lewis failed to topple McMillin in the last election, despite a glowing endorsement from Melton.

"I'm not going to mislead the public and say I've got all the answers and overnight solutions," said Lewis. "What made me a good chief and a successful police officer was the fact that I didn't have the ego and I knew I didn't know everything. I'm going to look for the best and brightest minds to bring to the table."

That attitude, he said, will help him forge better relationships with surrounding law enforcement agencies to help lower crime in Jackson.

"We have been talking with (agencies in our) our tri-county area to make sure we have the partnerships we need," Lewis said. "Hinds County should be the safest country in the state. We have the Jackson Police Department and the Hinds County Sheriff's Department housed here. We have the Hinds County District Attorney, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals housed here. You have all your high-level law enforcement agencies housed here, but we have to develop those relationships. You've got to throw the egos out the window. At some point, you've got to realize that it's not about you."

Previous Comments

ID

163746

Comment

"Lewis added that drug interceptions usually carry the benefit of raising county seizure revenue, thanks to automobiles and drug money in seized vehicles, which local authorities permanently confiscate if perpetrators are convicted. He said he would likely use the money for training and other safety expenses." Radley Balko does not approve this message

Author

jbreland

Date

2011-06-04T12:59:06-06:00

ID

163748

Comment

Any idea on how much money is "confiscated" in...let's say, a year? Just askin'

Author

justjess

Date

2011-06-04T19:27:18-06:00

ID

163754

Comment

What a wonderful idea! That the police should start trying to intercept the trafficking of illicit drugs. I wonder why no one has thought of this strategy before? Maybe they could start a huge campaign, call it the "Battle on Drugs" or something catchy.

Author

WMartin

Date

2011-06-06T08:46:03-06:00

ID

163755

Comment

Fine, so long as the dept. is transparent about how much and where the money goes. Hmm. I wonder if he'll turn up at COPS so I can ask that question?

Author

Pilgrim

Date

2011-06-06T09:41:48-06:00

ID

163759

Comment

So, basically, this is an admission that the real reasons behind the "War on Drugs" is for local police forces to legally steal the money and property of ordinary citizens in order to make a profit? Here is an idea to lower crime in Jackson - and in all Mississippi and the United States as a whole - stop worrying about what people do in the privacy of their own homes. Sure, if someone who robs someone was high at the time, tack on a little extra fine and a little extra time. For people who have done no harm, created no trouble, leave them alone. Even better, legalize, tax and regulate "illicit" drugs. Crime rate plummets, tax revenue rises, prison populations drop - further easing tax expenditures. http://www.leap.cc/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LayaGk0TMDc http://www.facebook.com/CopsSayLegalizeDrugs There may even be a cure for Cancer in it - http://educate-yourself.org/cn/ricksimpsoncancercure16dec07.shtml

Author

BobbyKearan

Date

2011-06-06T14:13:50-06:00

ID

163761

Comment

Speaking of Democrats, did 'all hear Congressman Show Your Weiner finally admitted today to sending pictures of his bulging pants to a woman over the internet and other hidden indiscretions? What is the world coming to when Democrats start mocking and emulating republicans so frequently. There just ain't no one to believe in any more. If Edwards and Weiner wants to act like republicans they should just resign the Democrat party and join up with the republicans. In that event they would finally learn how to successfully preach the Sermon on the Mount one moment and the next get some outside tail undiscovered or undetected. Lewis needs to read Michelle Alexander book, The New Jim Crow, Mass Incarceration and forget the dumb crap he's speaking of here. Lock those criminals up nonetheless though.

Author

Walt

Date

2011-06-06T17:23:32-06:00

ID

163766

Comment

Walt, you know that Donna is going to run your behind off of this link. LOL! You did add a little something at the end by advising Lewis to read The New Jim Crow, Mass Incarceration. It doesn't seem that he will have much time for reading. Weiner's behavior was disappointing: He was a great voice for Democratic issues. He was a late bloomer: Was married just 2 yrs. ago. I guess he forgot that he works for the White House as a congressman: not for Oscar Mayer Weiner. Ok Donna, I quit.

Author

justjess

Date

2011-06-06T23:57:12-06:00