Pubdate: Sun, 30 Dec 2001
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2001 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html
Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805
Author: Jimmie E Gates, Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer

MOURNERS BID FAREWELL TO SLAIN PRENTISS OFFICER

PRENTISS - Prentiss BP gas station owner Ginger Swales wiped tears as
she left the grave site of police officer Ron Jones.

"It's like a piece of the town is gone," Swales said.

Swales and hundreds of others came together Saturday in this small
city about 60 miles south of Jackson in Jefferson Davis County to say
farewell to Jones. Mourners included law enforcement officers from
across the state and one from Louisiana as well as 4th District U.S.
Rep. Ronnie Shows, D-Bassfield, who is from the area.

Jones, 29, a four-year officer of the five-member Prentiss Police
Department and son of Police Chief Ronald Jones, was killed Wednesday
night as he and officers of a drug task force served a search warrant
at a duplex less than a mile from the police department.

Cory Maye, 21, of Mendenhall who rented the duplex, is charged with
capital murder in Ron Jones' death. He was being held without bond in
the Forrest County Jail.

About 45 minutes before Jones' funeral at Saulters-Moore Funeral Home,
the main street in downtown was blocked off and close to 100 law
enforcement vehicles lined the street. Officers, family and friends
began piling into the funeral home, some to view Jones' body as his
K-9 partner "Buzz" stood by the casket.

By the time the funeral started, an overflow crowd was inside the
300-seat chapel and people spilled outside into the street.

The service lasted about 40 minutes, with the Rev. Randy Rich of
Prentiss delivering the eulogy on "Trust."

Thomas Ashwell, who lives across the street from the funeral home,
watched from his front yard.

Ashwell said the whole community is in shock over Jones'
death.

"It's a shock for me," Ashwell said. "This community will miss
him."

Ashwell said Jones' funeral was the largest he had seen in the
community, including funerals for Jefferson County Deputies J.P.
Rutland and Tommy Bourne in 1997.

Bourne and Rutland were killed when a prisoner they were transporting
to a prison in Rankin County shot them to death.

Swales gave one explanation of why people wanted to show respect for
Jones.

"It's like your child is gone," Swales said. "It's like a family
member will no longer be at the dinner table."

Swales said Jones was always at the gas station, often coming to have
food.

"He was the nicest person you ever wanted to meet," said Rosetta
Armstrong, a cook at Swales' business.

Armstrong said Jones' death is sad because he was trying to help rid
the community of drugs.

Jones' girlfriend, Ginny Antoniuk, said of her boyfriend, "He was a
wonderful, loving, giving person. He would help anyone."

Antoniuk said one of Jones' passions was riding his four-wheeler with
her and their friends.

Laurie Sears, who said she was a dear friend of Jones', said he was a
stand-up guy with the most glorious smile.

During the burial at Dublin Baptist Church Cemetery, about two miles
from the funeral home, a Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Honor Guard
saluted Jones. As taps was played, Buzz barked.

Near the end of the ceremony, a Prentiss police dispatcher voice came
over the radio in a city patrol vehicle, bringing many to tears with
what was transmitted.

"Prentiss P-5, Prentiss PD," the dispatcher said, referring to Jones'
radio call sign. "All stations man your vehicle."

Jackson Precinct 2 Patrolman Willie Allen said it appeared Jones did
everything right, including wearing his bullet-resistant vest. But
Allen said when it's your time, nothing will save you.

"It comes down to us against them, the bad guys," Allen said. "When
you leave home, you don't know if you are coming back."

Jones and the other officers went on the drug raid after Jones
initiated the paperwork for the warrant.

Authorities say Maye shot at Jones as he attempted to enter his
bedroom. Maye's 1-year-old daughter was in the duplex at the time of
the shooting. Neither Maye nor his daughter was injured.

A small-caliber bullet struck Jones in the abdomen, just below his
bullet-resistant vest. He died while being rushed to the hospital.

Prentiss city worker Lonzell Newsome said the younger Jones was a
"good friend."

"It's really sad," Newsome said. "I think it (Jones' death) has made
everyone feel uncomfortable."
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