MELTON SWORN IN AS STATE'S DRUG CZAR

Former TV executive and controversial gubernatorial appointee Frank Melton
was sworn in Friday as head of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

Melton has been on the job since December, leading a series of "street
sweeps" around the state. Early on, he led a high-profile sweep in front of
the Capitol in downtown Jackson while lawmakers were in session, a move
that raised eyebrows.

Melton, 52, is the former chief executive officer of WLBT-Channel 3 in
Jackson. The state Senate confirmed his appointment late last month.

Hinds County Youth Court Judge Houston J. Patton administered the oath in a
ceremony in the gymnasium of the Farish Street YMCA. Melton serves as a
summer camp director at the center.

Melton said he would outline his goals for the bureau at a later date, but
said they center on prevention and enforcement.

He singled out the drug methamphetamine as a Mississippi scourge.

"It's the single most explosive drug I have seen in my life," he said.

Twenty-four agents in two narcotics units were dedicated to breaking up
methamphetamine manufacturers, Melton said.

"They're out every day, every night doing three or four laboratories all
over the state," Melton said.

Melton said the Narcotics Bureau has participated directly in more than 600
arrests since he took over on Dec. 4. He said 347 suspects are still in
custody and would be prosecuted.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove told the audience that Melton "is the right man for
the job." Combining Melton's belief in young people with his anger against
drug dealers, "you have a force to be reckoned with," Musgrove said.

Melton said he will attend a Drug Enforcement Agency course in Quantico,
Va., lasting 2 1/2 weeks in April. Critics have questioned his ability to
lead the bureau when he has no law enforcement experience.

Hinds County Sheriff Malcolm McMillin and Jackson Police Chief Robert Moore
said they have been working with Melton. Both said his inexperience hasn't
been a problem.

"We share the benefit of some experience with him, but Frank doesn't need a
lot," McMillin said. "If we see something that we think he needs to
address, then we give him a call or he'll come by or we'll go see him and
we put our heads together."

Melton said he would use his $60,000 annual salary to start a foundation to
provide higher education scholarships to drug-free children. He said
details were being worked out, but he hoped to award the first scholarship
by September.