I'm not going to pretend to know whether or not the Leland police department is honest or corrupt. But what I do know is Wilmington has a huge crime problem, and Leland's problems are growing. Without a strong police department that is well funded and supported by the community, crime will continue to grow and property values will continue to sink.

There's a reason divorce rates are so high among police officers. It's a tough, thankless job with long hours and no end in site. Rarely does anyone say thank you, and often they say a lot of offensive and hateful things.

If there are corrupt cops in Leland, then they need to be put in jail with the other criminals. But there are also good cops. Police officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. Thank you.

Personally, I think both the Wilmington and Leland police departments are underfunded and understaffed. And if anyone is genuinely serious about reducing crime and improving property values-that's the first step.