GET READY FOR NEW MBN TO FIGHT BAD GUYS

Just to set the record straight: I deeply appreciate people's recognition
of the success of my broadcast career here in Mississippi. It was a very
successful run.

However, it needs to be known that I have never had a broadcast or business
course in my life.

As stated before, much - if not all - of my success has come from the
people who surrounded me. They are the real heroes and the real success
stories.

As the public continues to debate the law enforcement issue, it needs to be
known that most of the people who have headed the FBI in Washington were
not from law enforcement.

Mississippi has some of the best law enforcement people in the country -
from the local police officers in the community, the many deputy sheriffs,
state agents and federal agents. As a team, they are among the best anywhere.

The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics has great law enforcement people. What
they need is leadership - someone who has the courage to finally go after
the people at the top regardless of their so-called standing in life. It
will be made clear soon why the governor has made this decision.

Also for the record, it is no secret that for the past 15 years I have been
on the front line, often alone, fighting drugs and juvenile gangs. It is
also no secret that during that time I have taken my share of bad guys to
police headquarters.

To cut to the chase, I encourage people to call any of our field agents at
MBN and get their view on my leadership. While it has only been a few days,
the tone is being established for the new MBN and it is exciting.

My pledge is simple: I will do what is right without regard to politics,
race or any other influences. My relationship with the Legislature will be
open, honest and respectfully candid. We cannot succeed without lawmakers'
leadership and support.

While I have great friends in both political parties, the truth is that I
am neither Democrat or Republican. I am an independent, who will serve all
of the people.

The public needs to know that the new MBN has the full support of the
governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the U.S. attorney,
the FBI, the DEA, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals, the Mississippi Highway
Patrol, the local police and sheriffs and the world-renowned Mississippi
National Guard.

This team represents the new MBN and we will be seeing the bad guys soon.

The public needs to understand that with this team there will be no way out
for drug violators in Mississippi.

This effort is not about Frank Melton. This effort is about securing the
future of this state and, more important, the future and safety of our
children.

On a personal note, I know that I will always have critics and they are
important to me because they have helped me to grow as a person over the years.

The truth is that for the first time in a long time I am happy, resolved,
challenged, and I feel a great deal of significance as a human being. I now
have the resources to help people restore their dignity, bring their
families back together and recapture their neighborhoods.

I represent hope, something that this country desperately needs. With your
support and help, I promise that tomorrow will be much better than today.

That is all that I will have to say about this issue.

* Frank Melton is director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. He is
former CEO of WLBT-TV 3.