Dover City Council President Fred Neil wrote a letter to the editor giving important information regarding the Dover Police Department (“Dover Police Department is under siege,” July 11). I support the department and his salient observations. Of course, there is always room for continuing improvement in any organization, and our DPD is engaged in finding ways to do things better in challenging times and getting better results. Constructive suggestions are always welcome, in my experience. The council president, Councilman Gerald Rocha and I have been in conversations with the department on sensitive issues.
What is clear to us is that much of what is needed is not in the purview of the department. The department does not control who is let out without bail. The agency does not set rules on when, for example, police can actually arrest a drug dealer because, even though an officer knows what the suspect is doing, the officer must be able to show that he or she saw certain elements, or the case is dismissed. Dover officers may know a wanted person is in a house, but if the person who answers the door denies it and if officers haven’t seen it, they are stuck. They operate under a maze of rules, which, overall, is good, so we do not become a police state. But the vigor of some interpretations is questionable.
When we did the quality-of-life experiment for six months, it was amazing how loitering, trespassing and disorderly conduct led to finding open capiases, illegal guns, drugs with intent to deliver and other crimes. Our city became safer after a couple of months. We stopped, and we see crime creeping back up.
We have people who want criminals to complain if they feel put upon by the police. They want to set up their own anonymous system of trolling and smearing. I find that disgusting. There is a legitimate complaint system, which I support because it ensures accountability and protects everyone’s rights. A free society has an accountable police service. A chaotic, violent society harasses, disrespects and undermines its police service. We have to choose which we will be. I choose a free and orderly society.
David L. Anderson
4th District Dover city councilman
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
