MS DRUG CZAR

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove must have lost his mind ("Melton tapped to be Miss.
drug czar," Dec. 5)! How else can one explain his decision to appoint a man
to head the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics who does not have one hour of
law enforcement experience?

This appointment is an insult to all working in state law enforcement,
particularly those members of the bureau. It says Gov. Musgrove does not
believe there are any qualified law enforcement professionals in
Mississippi who could fill the position. How can he expect the men and
women of the bureau to have any respect for a director with no experience?

This appointment also sends a chilling message to the citizens that
Musgrove is not serious about fighting drugs in our state.

This criticism is not about Frank Melton the person. He is probably a fine
fellow but he does not have the law enforcement background and experience
needed to be director of the Bureau of Narcotics.

Hopefully the state Senate will restore some sanity to this situation by
rejecting this ludicrous appointment and demanding that the governor
appoint a qualified person to head the Narcotics Bureau.

The war on drugs in Mississippi is too important to be put in the hands of
an amateur.

William H. Dilday Jr.

Jackson