After reading various newspaper articles and viewing online news reports regarding the recent uptick in criminal activity in Dover, I have serious concern about the quality of life that city leaders are providing. Because I have lived in Dover many years, it is sad for me. A city that was once known for its rich history (dating back to Colonial times), that prospered with visitors from around the nation and that supplied a nice life for locals has now become the Wild, Wild West. Recent gunfire in the city, mostly gang-related, has many of us, including myself, scared to death. Now, I hear about another homicide that involved a 22-year-old whose life was taken in the parking lot of a restaurant. Is there any place safe in Dover? I don’t go downtown anymore, with worries of being accosted by prostitutes, drug addicts and homeless individuals asking for money.
It is really a shame how the law-abiding citizens of Dover have to live these days.
I don’t know whom to hold accountable at this point. Some of these crimes and drive-by shootings are inevitable, while others could have been prevented if we had better leadership in the city and police department. I think it’s time for a new police chief who will be boots on the ground, working with his troops in the streets. We don’t need a commissioner or politician. The Dover Police Department needs effective leaders, with a chief that will use his or her voice to press for needed changes to engage the community.
Chris White
Dover
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
