POINT WELL TAKEN: CAIRO NAMES NEW ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF

CAIRO, Ill. -- Mayor James Wilson has reached another goal of a comprehensive nine-point program he introduced last month to improve the Cairo Police Department.

"We have hired an assistant police chief," said Wilson. Harold Nelson, 60, has been named to the new position.

Nelson, of Tamms, served 32 years with the Illinois State Police before retiring four years ago.

Wilson announced Nelson's appointment during a press conference last week at Cairo City Hall.

"We feel we have made a good choice," said Wilson Monday. "Everybody knows and respects Harold Nelson. He had a great record with the state police. This is a positive bit of news."

Nelson said: "The city administration is sincere in its efforts to create a professional police force here. 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.

"Adding a minority as assistant police chief was one of the priority items on my nine-point program," said Wilson. "Nelson will work with Police Chief Burl Pickett on reshaping the police department.

"Nelson was one of two people we had in mind when we introduced the nine-point package," said Wilson. "The other candidate recommended Nelson, and we're pleased that he accepted."

Wilson outlined his nine-point program which also includes a new police commissioner, new police fire and board members, and the founding of a citizens advisory panel on Jan. 11.

Bobby Whitaker was named as new police commissioner.

All of the proposals for the new plan were in reference to concerns with city law enforcement.

Other goals include a 50 percent minority police force by 1995; a recommendation that two police officers be assigned per car during night patrol; firearms training and an ongoing training program for officers, including Police Training Institute (PTI) training.

"We've had some events in the city which are disturbing," said Wilson. "We suggested some changes which we feel will improve the police department."

One of the events Wilson referred to was the Dec. 30 shooting of Roy Lee Jones of Hodges Park, Ill., by Cairo police officer John McDonald after Jones had struck McDonald and run away. McDonald, who has been charged with second-degree murder in the incident, allegedly fired at Jones 14 times, hitting him once.

"We see a problem in the shooting of Jones," said Wilson. "We have to make some improvements."

McDonald recently waived a preliminary hearing and will appear at an arraignment on the charge Feb. 24.