To the Editor:

I am a lifelong resident of Southampton County. That used to be something that I was proud of.

That was before the days our towns started hiring a convicted sex offender as police.

That was before our sheriff’s office hired an officer who resigned from another law enforcement agency after being arrested on DUI charges. What gives these criminals the right to arrest people for the same crimes they committed?

Why would the county and towns consider hiring rejects? Something is definitely wrong with this system.

Why do most of our law enforcement officers spend their days on duty standing around local convenience stores gossiping with the owners about ongoing cases? Are these the type of people you want in charge of you and your family’s safety?

William Griffin

Boykins

Editor’s note: The letter writer is incarcerated in the Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk.