Council picks new chief of police

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MORRISON - A former Jo Daviess County sheriff will lead the town's seven-member police force, the City Council decided Monday. Brian R. Melton, 39, originally from Lanark but now of East Dubuque, will take over as chief on Feb. 2. Melton has been with the Jo Daviess Sheriff's Department for 17 years, and is its administrative lieutenant. Before that, he was chief deputy for 13 years and, after a brief hiatus, was interim sheriff from January to November 2006. His contract is being finalized, but Melton will make between $57,000 and $77,000. He replaces Ernie Huling, 54, who retired in September after 34 years with the Morrison Police Department, 9 as its chief. Tony Graff, 54, has been serving as interim chief; he works with the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, which helped conduct the search. It was Melton's enthusiasm that helped him beat the other candidates, Mayor Roger Drey said. During the interview process, Melton was asked how he'd handle a situation in which the city administrator said no to an idea brought up by the chief. Melton said he'd go to the mayor or the council with an idea he believed in, Drey said. "Brian was willing to go further up," Drey said. Melton is active in several Jo Daviess County agencies, a practice he said he would like to continue in Morrison. For example, he has served on the Jo Daviess County Emergency Telephone System Board (its 9-1-1 system), the Riverview Center board (which provides support services for those who were sexually abused or assaulted), the Workshop board (which helps people with disabilities), and has been an alderman in East Dubuque. He said he's been thinking about taking a chief of police position for 2 years, and was in fact a finalist for the Rock Falls police chief position, which ultimately went to Mike Kuelper. One thing Melton would like to see is a Morrison school resource officer. Paying for one is the challenge, he said, adding he wants to "work hard with schools and build a community-strong police department. "You can get a lot more accomplished working together." The Brian Melton file Age: 39 Current Home: East Dubuque Family: He and his wife, Carrie, 36, have two children, Emma, 10, and Isaac, 4. Education: Melton is a graduate of Eastland High School and has a bachelor of applied science in law enforcement and justice administration from Western Illinois University. He was an intern with the Illinois State Police District 1 in Sterling and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Employment: Melton has been with the Jo Daviess County Sheriff's department for 17 years. He has been a deputy, sergeant, lieutenant, chief deputy and interim sheriff. His rank is now lieutenant.