In a meeting with reporters in December, new Jackson Police Chief Malcolm McMillin made clear his policy toward providing information to media.
“We’re not going to have any bull- over here about what you are entitled to,” he said. “I’ve had good media relations for 16 years, and I’m not going to change that now.”
McMillin, now in his third month as chief, brings to the job the savvy of a seasoned politician. He also is the elected sheriff of Hinds County.
McMillin said his administration will be transparent and requests for information will be filled in a timely basis as long an investigation is not jeopardized.
Several recent examples, however, show McMillin has limits to how open he’ll be. He won’t confirm internal affairs investigations. He would not release the names of the businesses where off-duty police officers are working second jobs, despite the fact they are in uniform and using patrol cars. After he agreed to release weekly crime statistics electronically to the newspaper, his staff has blocked that process.
Magnolia Tribune
