Pubdate: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 Source: Hattiesburg American (MS) Copyright: 2002 Hattiesburg American Contact: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1646 Author: William H. Dilday Jr., NEW DRUG CHIEF LACKS EXPERIENCE Gov. Ronnie Musgrove must have lost his mind. How else can anyone explain his decision to appoint a man to head the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics who does not have one hour of law enforcement experience? This appointment is an insult to all those working in state law enforcement, particularly those members of the bureau. It says Gov. Musgrove does not believe there are any qualified law enforcement professionals in Mississippi who could fill this position. How can he expect the men and women of the bureau to have any respect for a director with no experience? This appointment also sends a chilling message to the citizens that Musgrove is not serious about fighting drugs in our state. This criticism is not about Frank Melton the person. He is probably a fine fellow but he does not have the law enforcement background and experience needed to be director of the Bureau of Narcotics. Hopefully the state Senate will restore some sanity to this situation by rejecting this ludicrous appointment and demanding that the governor appoint a qualified person to head the Narcotics Bureau. The war on drugs in Mississippi is too important to be put in the hands of an amateur. William H. Dilday Jr., Jackson - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom