CAIRO WELCOMES NEW CHIEF; NELSON FIRST BLACK TO LEAD CITY POLICE

CAIRO, Ill. -- Cairo has a new police chief.

Harold Nelson, 60, a retired Illinois State Policeman who was named assistant chief here in February, has been elevated to the chief's position. He becomes the first black police chief in the city's history.

The move followed last week's announcement by Burl Pickett that he was resigning as police chief to return to his previous duties as Cairo's representative on the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force.

"I don't think we could have found a more qualified person for the chief's position," said James Wilson, who announced Nelson's appointment. "Everybody knows and respects Harold Nelson. He had a great record with the state police, and has been doing a good job here during his three months as assistant chief."

Nelson has more than 30 experience in police work. He served 32 years with the Illinois State Police before retiring four years ago. "We feel we have made a good choice with Nelson," said Wilson Monday.

Nelson will resume his new duties when he returns from vacation. He was unavailable for comment Monday, but when he was named assistant chief in February, he said he was "looking forward to the challenge of getting back into police work.

"The (Cairo) city administration is sincere in its efforts to create a professional police force here," he said. "I like the challenge it presents. It may take some adjustments for me to get back into law enforcement, but I'm looking forward to the new job."

The Cairo Police Department has a dozen members. The city has a 20-member auxiliary force.

"We hated to see Pickett resign as chief," added Wilson. "But, we're glad to see him going back to the drug task force. He worked with the task force before, and has great expertise in that phase of police work."

Pickett said, "I'm really looking forward to rejoining the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force. I worked with the task force two years from 1989 to May of 1991 before being named chief here."

Pickett, a native Cairoite, has been a member of the Cairo Police Department more than 17 years.

"I worked my way through the ranks," he said. "Police work is my life. It's all I've every wanted to do. I'll still be a member of the Cairo Police Department, as captain, but will be assigned to the task force."

Pickett will be working full time with the task force in Cairo and Alexander County.

"I feel that working with the drug task force is a big challenge to law enforcement," said Pickett. "I think I was effective while I was on the task force."