HAYWOOD COUNTY SHERIFF TALKS ABOUT METH TASK FORCE

BROWNSVILLE - Seventy-five percent of all meth labs in the country are in
the Southeast, and that worries Haywood County Sheriff Melvin Bond Jr.

ERIKA ALEXANDER/The Jackson Sun - Haywood County Sheriff Melvin Bond Jr.
was recently named one of 20 Tennesseans named to the Governor's Task Force
on Methamphetamine Abuse. Only four law enforcement professionals were
appointed to the group, including another sheriff and two police chiefs.

''It's scary; it's really scary,'' he said. ''So you see what we're faced
with in this particular area.''

Bond is one of 20 Tennesseans named to the Governor's Task Force on
Methamphetamine Abuse. Only four law enforcement professionals were
appointed to the group, including another sheriff and two police chiefs.

The Task Force's first meeting was Tuesday, and the next is scheduled for
June 21 at Jackson State Community College.

Bond has worked for the county Sheriff's Department since 1988 and has
served in almost every department, including investigation, child abuse and
narcotics.

Bond grew up in Nutbush, one of 11 children. Now, he is married with six
children of his own.

He loves his home county, which has a population of more than 38,000. It's
a friendly community where everyone pulls together in times of need, he said.

Bond recently talked with The Jackson Sun about the plans of the Meth Task
Force and his job as sheriff.

Question: How do you feel about the opportunity to serve on the Governor's
Meth Task Force?

Answer: ''I feel honored to be a selectee of the governor.''

Q: How big a problem is meth in this area?

A: ''It's a statewide problem. Stats would show around the Cumberland area
is the most predominant, but we're having a rash of it in West Tennessee,
also.''

Q: Why do you think meth is becoming so widespread?

A: ''It's a cheap method with a longer high. It stays with you a lot longer
than crack cocaine ever thought of, and it's easy to manufacture. It's so
very similar to crack - $100 in supplies will make about $1,000 in sales.''

Q: What happened at the first Governor's Task Force meeting?

A: The group broke the task down into four groups: Public awareness, law
enforcement, environmental issues and health, Bond said. The governor seems
the most concerned about the health aspect, since the Department of
Children's Services has gotten involved because children are not being
taken care of. The task force's recommendations are due to the governor by
Sept. 1.

Q: How long have you been the sheriff of Haywood County?

A: ''Since 2002 ... my first tour at the helm.''

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: ''(I enjoy) helping people, solving crimes and trying to keep our
community safe and drug free.''

Q: What's the hardest thing about your job?

A: ''Not a large percentage of burglaries and things are solved, and to see
families that are deprived of their personal belongings ... it hurts. The
most painful aspect of all of this job would probably be child abuse.''

Q: What do you like to do when you are not working?

A: ''Hunting and fishing and coaching my coach-pitch softball. I love
hunting - I like to work my dogs; I love it.''

Q: What book are you reading right now?

A: ''Nothing right now, other than Bible studies. That's what I study more
than anything. I try to keep God first in all I do. I try not to put faith
in man. At the end of the day, I'd like to look back and not have any
regrets and say that I treated everyone fairly - not according to race or
creed. That way I can live with myself and look at myself in the mirror.''

- - Julie Dodson, (731) 425-9763

About Haywood County Sheriff Melvin Bond Jr.

Age: 51

Family: Married with six children

Education:

Graduated from high school in Lauderdale County

Attended Dyersburg State Community College

Has also participated in numerous law enforcement training schools

Hometown: Nutbush Achievements:

One of 20 Tennesseans chosen to serve on the Governor's Task Force on
Methamphetamine Abuse

Appointed by Gov. Phil Bredesen to the Tennessee Correction Institute How
to help

Bond asks any sheriff in the West Tennessee area who has statistics or
suggestions about methamphetamine to e-mail or fax him the information. The
information will be presented to the Governor's Task Force on
Methamphetamine Abuse.