By John Howell Sr.

The Como Police Department is operating unchanged after town officials last month considered eliminating most positions and utilizing the Panola County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement in the municipality. Still pending is a Mississippi Attorney General’s opinion about the use of tourism tax proceeds to pay for police protection.

Attorney John Calvin Patterson said during the Feb. 12 that he expects to hear from the Attorney General within 30 days. He submitted the inquiry to the Attorney General’s office on January 26 the day following a special meeting last month.

During the Jan. 25 meeting, Patterson and Como Main Street Alliance spokesman Dan Smith presented a proposal that would use tourism tax proceeds to fund police protection for the Main Street area frequented by tourists. Town officials tabled action on the police department to await clearance from the Attorney General.

“We’re still a viable part of the town operations,” Como Police Chief Fred Boskey said. The police chief said the department employs three officers full-time and three part-time officers, “that are being used sparingly.”

During his report Tuesday night, Boskey said that over $12,000 in old fines had been collected during January. He said the department had made nine arrests and investigated eight criminal complaints during the month.

Aldermen took no action on a list of proposed salary and benefit cuts that Boskey presented.

In other business, aldermen deferred action on Alvin Jackson’s request to open a club that would serve beer until he gets plumbing for a restroom and legal documents in order.