Mississippi - Local lawmen address corruption
Delta Democrat Times, October 30, 2006, By Eloria Newell James / elorianewelljames@ddtonline.com
Greenville, Mississippi - Local law enforcement officials say the recent rash of arrests and guilty pleas of Mississippi law enforcement officers have not affected their departments. However, they all acknowledged that the recent events have questioned law enforcement's integrity.
Ruleville Police Chief Ronald Durelle Robinson pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal charge in U.S. District Court in Oxford. Robinson and Ruleville Assistant Police Chief Larry Mitchell were scheduled to stand trial on federal charges in January on drug and extortion charges. Thursday, Robinson admitted that while employed as chief the Ruleville Police Department, he obtained a cash payoff of $3,000 to which he was not entitled, in exchange for not pursuing drug and gambling related charges against an individual and for providing protection for an individual that he believed to be distributing crack cocaine.
A week ago, Yazoo City Police Chief Ceasar Felton turned himself in after being indicted on five counts of embezzlement and one count of obtaining property by false pretense for allegedly persuading a woman to sign a 10-year-old Hyundai over to him to settle apparently fictitious impound fees.
The following day, Tupelo Police Capt. Robert Hall was arrested on obstruction of justice and accessory-after-the fact charges for allegedly mishandling an accident that left a young boy seriously injured.
Local officials said these incidents do not represent the overall law enforcement profession. “I've always felt that if you have law enforcement officials, judges and people in places of integrity, and something happens, it affects us all in some way,” Leland Police Chief Eddie Johnson said. “It's a black eye for the whole profession of law enforcement.”
Greenville Police Chief Lester Carter said integrity is needed in all positions. “You have to have good integrity when you are put in these positions of authority,” he said. Washington County Sheriff Milton Gaston said it's important for officials to uphold their oath and responsibilities. “We all take an oath. So, we just need to do what we are supposed to do,” Gaston said. “We need to be out here to do a job. We don't need to get caught up in any illegal activity. We need to uphold our responsibilities.” Carter said he believes the community must look at the individual situations. “I think they should look at the person and not the whole profession,” he said. “We are not responsible for other people's actions.” Johnson agreed. “Each community should judge its law enforcement agency on its own merit,” the top Leland cop said. “Things like this attack the trustworthiness of law enforcement. At all times, we have to work on our image and do what we are supposed to as law enforcement officers.” Gaston said it's important for officials to realize why they are in office. “We need to be out here to do a job,” he said. “Our job is to serve and protect the people.”
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