Well, well, it seems that our District Attorney-elect, Robert Smith, now needs bodyguards. Damn. Is he THAT good? Do the criminals fear him THAT much? Apparently so because according to The Clarion-Ledger last week:
"Twenty-four-hour police protection will be provided indefinitely for Hinds County District Attorney-elect Robert Shuler Smith, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton said Wednesday.
Because of multiple, anonymous phone calls and police "intelligence" indicating his life had been threatened, Smith was assigned two detectives from the Jackson Police Department about a week ago, Melton said.
"If I am analyzing this based on my own experience, we're going to have to protect him until he takes office and after he takes office," said the mayor, who has had two detectives as personal bodyguards since he took office in 2005. Smith begins his four-year term in the $96,000-a-year job in January." http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709130388 (September 13, 2007).
Because of multiple, anonymous phone calls and police "intelligence" indicating his life had been threatened, Smith was assigned two detectives from the Jackson Police Department about a week ago, Melton said.
"If I am analyzing this based on my own experience, we're going to have to protect him until he takes office and after he takes office," said the mayor, who has had two detectives as personal bodyguards since he took office in 2005. Smith begins his four-year term in the $96,000-a-year job in January." http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007709130388 (September 13, 2007).
I voted for Smith for several reasons but I never thought he was so good the criminals would be trying to kill him before he even took office. I mean, this guy hasn't even assumed office, has kept a fairly low profile, and already his life in danger. If this is how much the criminals fear him, I expect crime in Hinds County to drop by 50% the day he assumes office.
Of course, there IS something that bothers me as a man about the whole ordeal. Its rather irritating to see a grown man who is not even in office need round the clock bodyguards when Ms. Peterson, a WOMAN, never needed such protection while she WAS putting crackheads, child molesters, murderers, and other criminals in jail. She never needed such protection even after said criminals were back on the street. Yet a grown man who has not prosecuted anyone yet needs protection? By the way, in case you think I am a sexist, Madison/Rankin D.A.-elect Michael Guest hasn't needed such protection either despite a substantial record of putting criminals in jail as a prosecutor. I mean, come on, Faye didn't need round the clock bodyguards. Nut up, be a man, and say you don't need them.
However, one should not be surprised that this does not seem quite right because Melton is involved. Melton has made it clear he thinks of Mr. Smith as his protege, since he was elected when he "crashed" the Smith's election night party and said he had known him since he was 15 years old, had helped him but kept his distance during the election, and made it clear he thought of Smith as his guy. Now he assigns some JPD to watch him 24/7. Does this remind anyone of La Cosa Nostra? Can't risk an independent D.A. in Hinds County. Considering what a control freak Melton is, does anyone think he won't be using those cops to keep him apprised of what Mr. Smith is doing? Maybe he won't but its a safe bet the thought has crossed his mind.
I have met Mr. Smith and like him personally. He comes from a great family. I was impressed by how he was committed to helping West Jackson where his family had much history. He did not move to an office in downtown Jackson with the other high-priced lawyers but instead kept his office in a building that used to be his grandfather's grocery store and is a stop on the Civil Rights Tour. There is much about Mr. Smith I respect. However, he needs to keep his distance from the Mayor (especially since there is the matter of an ongoing FBI investigation).
What Mr. Smith should do is tell the Mayor he appreciates his offer of bodyguards but he is a county official and he should forward to Mr. Smith and the Sheriff all threats and related intelligence, so the Sheriff can provide him with protection as needed. It is hard to believe Sheriff McMillin would refuse such a request from Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith should also say he believes in leading by example, and with Jackson residents suffering from an epidemic of crime, its not right for him to tie up the JPD when those officers could be better used elsewhere. He could even go further and state that right now, the JPD only has one fingerprint specialist instead of the two required by state law for prosecution of a case, (JPD has to send fingerprints off to the state, thus adding to the backlog of cases in Hinds County), and he would rather see them use the resources to hire another one, which would better help Jackson residents.
Mr. Smith should also realize threats are just part of the job and deal with it. EVERY D.A. will tell you they have received threats, hate mail, and harrassing phone calls. Prosecutors get threats all the time, as they put criminals away in jail on a daily basis, yet they do not request police protection. I am not ridiculing the actual threats received, but am pointing out that there is a better way to handle this matter.
Mr. Smith is a very smart and talented attorney. However, there is something disconcerting about him accepting such "protection" from Mr. Melton when it should be coming from the Sheriff's office and also unmanly about it when Faye received her share of controversy yet never needed such protection.
Note: See online poll on right side of the blog.
Sorry for the tone of the post by the way, but I am at the doctor's office for my annual physical, have been here since 7, and am sitting in the middle of the local AARP meeting while Barry Manilow is on the today show. That would make ANYONE mean.
David Hampton (Clarion-Ledger) blogs on this matter:
5 comments:
I just spoke with former District Attorney, Frank Carlton of Washington County. Even in 1980 Greenville, MS was rated 10th in the nation crime wise. He stated that the whole time he was DA that he never felt the need for 24/7 protection from anyone. He also stated that the ones he would be somewhat fearful of, were the ones that never threatened him to his face, verbally over the phone or otherwise.
Janice Kilby
Indianola, MS
Did he ever get threats?
He said he was only threatened a few times, however he was not concerned enough to have 24/7 protection. I will also talk with him later on this week. I am sure he will have more to say on the issue then.
JMK
Faye DID request protection but withdrew it after it went public.
Um, not so fast. Here is the quote from the CL story:
Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin said he cannot remember a district attorney in the recent past who has asked the sheriff's department for 24-hour protection.
Peterson last year had asked county officials for an unmarked car after she said she had received threats and had become concerned for her own safety. She withdrew the request, however, after her memo requesting the vehicle was leaked to The Clarion-Ledger.
Yeah, she asked for an unmarked car. Mac says no one has requested such protection from the Sheriff's office in recent years.
nice try at being cute.
Post a Comment