Council picks new chief of police

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 As