Although suspended from duty, Michael Recio, Jackson Mayor Frank Melton's former bodyguard, is still pulling down a paycheck from the city, according to WAPT.

According to city records, (Marcus) Wright (Melton's second bodyguard) took home $3,478 a month, while Recio made $3,580 a month. That does not count overtime pay for the men. In 2007, the Clarion-Ledger reported the bodyguards made a combined $41,000 in overtime pay.

Both Recio and Wright were on the city payroll as police officers. The news organization also obtained cell phone records that show both men charged the city roughly $113 a month, with Wright's new phone costing the city more than $500 in August, 2008. Wright retained his phone under his plea agreement.

According to WAPT: Recio was suspended from the police force with pay after he was indicted in July 2008 on the federal charges. But Recio still has his city cell phone. The city has paid $900 for his phone since July, documents show.

Last month, the mayor cut the city budget by 3 percent, and he has ordered a hiring freeze.

Federal prosecutors indicted Recio and Wright, along with Melton, on civil rights charges in connection with a destroyed Ridgeway Street duplex. Wright made a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Recio and Melton's federal trial ended in a mistrial last month, and a new trial is scheduled to begin May 11.

Previous Comments

ID

145052

Comment

Gossip has it that Recio is losing his house. Wright can never again be a law enforcement officer. Don't know if he is currently working or not. Recio is bound to feel like he's waiting on the other shoe to drop. They made a little money, probably had a few wild rides, and then what? Recio will never be respected by other officers if he goes free not to mention what it will be like if he doesn't. My question is: Was it worth it, guys?

Author

Razor

Date

2009-03-24T13:51:28-06:00

ID

145055

Comment

Wright can never again be a law enforcement officer. Don't know if he is currently working or not. I've heard that he's in the trucking business. To what extent, I don't know.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2009-03-24T14:40:13-06:00