Is the Third Time a Charm for Melton's Trial?
Rev. James Jones
Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: News
Frank Melton was inaugurated as Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi on July 4, 2005 after the first black mayor in the city. He won the election by a landside, sixty-three percent of the votes, beating Harvey Johnson after serving two terms. Prior to becoming mayor, he was the head of WLBT-TV 3, which he later sold to a majority White company. He later served as the head of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics for fourteen months after being appointed by then Governor Ronnie Musgrove. When Governor Haley Barbour took office, he dismissed Melton due to a record low number of drug arrests. Other fields he served in are as follows: director of Criminal Justice Task Force, Mississippi Department of Human Services and the Texas Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. He has also worked as a member of the Board of Directors for United Way and the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and is a voluntary instructor at Jackson State University. He currently serves on the national board of directors for the Broadcast Music Industry in New York and on the Liberty Broadcasting Board of Directors, the Wave Board of Directors, the Community Broadcast Group and the NBC Affiliates Board of Directors.
Since becoming mayor, Melton has taken a stand against drug crimes in the city. He has been very active in drug sweeps and drug raids even thoughthe city's narcotics unit has decreased and few drug arrests are made. Many citizens are pleased with his efforts in addressing the city's problems, whereas groups like the NAACP and the ALU take offense to his crime-fighting tactics and what they call illegal andunconstitutional actions. In April 2006, Melton and District Attorney Peterson had heated words with each other because she would not call a witness who Melton thought should be called to the stand to substantiate that a suspect was a member of a gang. After being shown on numerous pictures and video carrying a weapon without a permit, Attorney General Jim Hood investigated Melton's actions. On June 1, 2006, Melton was sent a letter by Hood, warning him that he would be prosecuted if he continued to carry weapons in places where weapons were prohibited andwas warned that he was not a police officer. Melton stated after receiving the letter that he did not have to heed to Hood's warning, and he continued to carry his weapon. In September 2006, Melton along with his bodyguards and a group of youths raided a duplex on Ridgeway Street without a warrant. Witnesses say the house was busted up using a large stick. During the incident, Melton cut his hand and had to go to the hospital and returned later. Upon returning, sledgehammers were brought to finish what they had started.
Since becoming mayor, Melton has taken a stand against drug crimes in the city. He has been very active in drug sweeps and drug raids even thoughthe city's narcotics unit has decreased and few drug arrests are made. Many citizens are pleased with his efforts in addressing the city's problems, whereas groups like the NAACP and the ALU take offense to his crime-fighting tactics and what they call illegal andunconstitutional actions. In April 2006, Melton and District Attorney Peterson had heated words with each other because she would not call a witness who Melton thought should be called to the stand to substantiate that a suspect was a member of a gang. After being shown on numerous pictures and video carrying a weapon without a permit, Attorney General Jim Hood investigated Melton's actions. On June 1, 2006, Melton was sent a letter by Hood, warning him that he would be prosecuted if he continued to carry weapons in places where weapons were prohibited andwas warned that he was not a police officer. Melton stated after receiving the letter that he did not have to heed to Hood's warning, and he continued to carry his weapon. In September 2006, Melton along with his bodyguards and a group of youths raided a duplex on Ridgeway Street without a warrant. Witnesses say the house was busted up using a large stick. During the incident, Melton cut his hand and had to go to the hospital and returned later. Upon returning, sledgehammers were brought to finish what they had started.
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