FIRST ON 3 UPDATE: Fired Leland cops appeal dismissals

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Three fired Leland Police officers have appealed their dismissal. Today was the last day to file those appeals.

Town Manager David Hollis says he received appeals from Lt. Bill Kozak, Lt. Rick Dellapia and Ofc. John Blasingame.

The town fired the officers last month after an internal investigation by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. Two other officers quit.

Hollis says the next step is to schedule a hearing with the three to hear their side of the story.

“These officers need to be able to come in and talk to me and state their case and their position, and I need to be able to understand the reasons why they were terminated,” Hollis said.

WWAY was the first, and for weeks only, media outlet to report on the issues within the Leland Police Department that also led to the firing of Chief Tim Jayne back in February.