Pubdate: Fri, 10 Jan 2003
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2003 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html
Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805
Author: John M. Colette
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n052/a02.html
Cited: Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics 
http://www.dps.state.ms.us/dps%5Cdps.nsf/Divisions/bn?OpenDocument
Bookmarks: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/racial+profiling (Racial Profiling)
http://www.mapinc.org/topics/homeland+security (Homeland Security)
http://www.mapinc.org/states/ms/ (Mississippi)

NEW MBN DIRECTOR ABUSING HIS POWER

The abuse of power is what citizens always fear and should be greatly
concerned about, yet it seems to be surfacing here in the capital city.

We are just now seeing a reduction here in Mississippi of "racial
profiling" used to stop motorists and we now have to deal with the
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics claiming that "homeland security"
somehow gives it the right to make "pretextual" stops of motorists to
see if they have a driver's license!

Please have someone explain to me how an "unsworn" newly appointed
director of the Bureau of Narcotics has the authority to set up an
illegal road block and stop citizens, to check driver's licenses
around the Capitol on the very day the Legislature comes back into
session and then claim it's not political but somehow covered by
homeland security!

The aggressive nature of our newly appointed MBN director seems to fly
in the face of the Constitution and statutes here in Mississippi.

Aggressive law enforcement is great, so long as it's within the bounds
of the law; however, this conduct is egregious and should not be tolerated.

John M. Colette,
Jackson