MAYOR CONFIDENT DRUG PROBE HANDLED PROPERLY

Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree said he's not sure if he'll know the
outcome of a DEA investigation into drugs turned over to authorities by a
local minister.

But he says he's convinced that the city's police department handled the
matter appropriately and that the DEA will thoroughly investigate the incident.

"Within 24 hours of the report of the drugs, a third party agency was
notified and the investigation turned over to them," DuPree said. "It's the
routine procedure when large amounts of drugs are involved."

The Rev. Kenneth Fairley, senior pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church,
asked police to remove a bag of marijuana from a church building in late
February.

Fairley said a parishioner found the drugs in her house and brought them to
the church's life center and asked that her identity be protected.

Fairley said he refused to identify the parishioner to either city police
officers or agents with the DEA. Fairley cited the privilege that exists
between pastors and parishioners.

No one with the Drug Enforcement Agency would comment on the case. The
value of the marijuana was estimated at $100,000. The marijuana, which was
stuffed in a bag, was compressed into bricks and weighed about 50 pounds,
police said.

DuPree said he will pass on any information he receives from the DEA to
Hattiesburg City Council members.

Councilman C.E. "Red" Bailey, who authored a resolution during the April 8
City Council meeting seeking a state investigation of the department's
conduct, said his resolution was not meant to imply any wrongdoing on the
part of the police.

"This is a perception issue in the community because of the close ties
between the chief and Rev. Fairley and rumors are out there," Bailey said.
"I think an independent investigation would put these rumors to an end."

Wynn said he does not know what Bailey is talking about.

"I've lived in Hattiesburg for 25 years," he said. "I attend Sweet Pilgrim
Baptist Church and I am no closer to Rev. Fairley than I am any other
minister other than my own."

Bailey's resolution called for the state attorney general's office to
investigate.

"I was not told that the DEA took over the investigation," Bailey said.
"Information on this has been fragmented. If we can hear something, then we
can tell people who are talking to us about this what actually is going on."

Bailey said he does not doubt that procedures were followed, but he's
concerned about perceptions.

The incident was not made public in February, but Fairley confirmed the
report earlier this month.

DuPree said the police did not report that drugs were removed from the
church at the time because the case was transferred to the DEA.

"In ongoing drug investigations, it's not unusual to withhold information
until arrests are made," DuPree said. "It's not the same thing as finding
drugs in a car on the highway and seizing the drugs and arresting the
people in the car."

DuPree said there are other examples of anonymity in investigations.

He cited the city's Crimestoppers program.

Crimestoppers pays for information, and the emphasis is placed on
information with no identity needed.

He also pointed out that state and local drug task forces often take months
to investigate drug operations and such investigations are not made public.