Some agencies looking into legality of Adopt-A-Cop, others say ‘it’s fine’

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Some towns in the Cape Fear are looking into the legality of the Adopt-A-Cop Program.

Earlier this week, we told you the Town of Leland is looking into the ethics of the program. We have learned the Shallotte Police Department is also having the town’s attorney look into their personnel policies to see how it fits.

Meanwhile, other agencies are encouraging it.

“You kind of hear them going down the hall excited going, ‘Oh, this is neat!'” Wilmington Police Spokeswoman Linda Rawley said.

Wilmington Police Spokeswoman Linda Rawly said the Adopt-A-Cop Program has brought lots of smiles to their department.

“They get an e-mail that says, ‘Stop by the front desk. You’ve got a gift from your adopt a cop,'” Rawley said.

She said everything is anonymous. Rawley said the officers do not know who the person is and the person does not know which officer is getting the gift.

“We simply provide the call numbers to the Adopt-A-Cop group,” Rawley said. “They were able to match the citizens to the call number and then, they are delivering those gifts to us and then, we are able to give the gifts to the officers.”

Rawly said they saw no harm in the idea.

“We believe at such a critical time in our country, that it’s great that we have citizens who want to show their appreciation to our officers,” Rawley said. “When we were approached, we decided to keep it as anonymous as possible.”

The Town of Leland told us earlier this week, they do not plan on allowing the program at the police department. The Shallotte Police Chief said as long as the town attorney says it is okay, they will continue the program.