Council questions legality of police officer pay hikes

The Clarion-Ledger, 11/20/7

City Council members on Monday questioned whether Mayor Frank Melton followed the law when he allowed interim police chief Gerald Jones to sign off on raises for himself and three others.

Jones was acting chief for about 36 hours last week when he signed off on his own raise and on raises for L.C. Russell, former Melton bodyguard Michael Recio, whom the mayor promoted to assistant chief, and current bodyguard Marcus Wright, whom Melton made a sergeant.

Shirlene Anderson, who was removed as chief last week, had refused to sign off on the raises.

Rank-and-file officers have complained that Melton was unfair in the promotions because neither officer earned the position through police procedure.