Danks cited a state law which states a "mayor shall be active and vigilant in enforcing all laws and ordinances" for the city.Plenty more there, read the whole thing.
Danks said Melton is "an ex-officio police chief" by virtue of his status as chief executive officer of the city.
But a 1990 Mississippi Attorney General's opinion states "the mayor does not have the authority to supervise law enforcement" and cannot "personally involve himself in the daily operation of the police department."
A 2003 opinion found that "while the mayor is the chief executive officer of the municipality, the mayor does not have authority to supervise law enforcement ... or supervise police officers on a daily basis."
Shirlene Anderson was appointed by Melton to head Jackson's almost 500-member police force. When contacted Wednesday to comment about the mayor's crime-fighting tactics, she asked the reporter to call her back. When the reporter called again, Anderson did not answer the phone.
On Sunday, the mayor, accompanied by police officers, went to a Jackson home and confronted a family he believed had threatened him. He carried the shotgun and a holstered pistol.
Attorney General Jim Hood said a holstered firearm constitutes a concealed weapon if the person is not a certified law enforcement officer.
"If you have a permit, you can carry it on your person," Hood said. "You need a permit to carry a gun in a public place in a concealed manner. You need a permit, unless you are a sworn law enforcement officer."
Melton maintains he has been a certified officer "since 1974" but will not say where he received that certification.
Deputy Attorney General Mike Lanford said it is a misdemeanor for anyone to impersonate a state or local officer or employee. The law carries a fine and a possible jail sentence.
The state law is a bit ambiguous because it doesn't mention law enforcement and does not address someone who holds a general office, Lanford said.
According to the city code, it is illegal for anyone "other than a duly appointed and regularly acting police officer" to wear police equipment or anything resembling police equipment.
What is clear to me is that the local police in that town have sanctioned some goofball with a domination complex to harrass people just because he can.
He confronted an entire family with police backup--just to show them who's boss, I guess.
I can't help but hope that he tries this on someone when he doesn't have his goon squad with him, but since his behavior is obviously cowardly, that probably ain't gonna happen.
