Leland’s “Top Cop”, Police Chief Osey Sanders,

Announces Departure

 

December 21, 2007       

 

LELAND, N.C. – Leland Police Chief Osey Sanders is resigning his position with the town effective March 20, 2008, Town Manager Bill Farris announced today. 

 

“I believe our department has made Leland a much safer and friendlier community over these past six years,” says Sanders. 

 

When Sanders became Leland’s Chief of Police in 2002, he joined a department of 10 sworn officers.  Leland’s population was approximately 4,000 and its violent crime rate was at 2.0 crimes per 1,000 citizens, with an overall crime rate averaging 72 crimes per 1,000 citizens.  Since then, Sanders has managed the growth and development of the department to 30 sworn officers and added several specialized units.  The department’s efforts have have taken a major bite out of crime:  according to 2006 statistics, violent crime had dropped to 1.3 crimes per 1,000 residents and the overall crime rate had dropped to 34 per 1,000 citizens – a significant decrease from 2002.   

 

“We’ve made a positive difference in Leland,” adds Sanders.  “Now, I feel it is time for me to explore some other opportunities that are available and give someone else the opportunity to take this fast-growing department to its next stage of development”

 

“On behalf of the Town of Leland, I thank Chief Sanders for his six years of service to our community,” says Town Manager Bill Farris.  “Chief Sanders led our police department during a period of unprecedented growth in Leland, and he and the entire police department have worked hard to make Leland a safer place for our citizens to live and work.  We are grateful for his efforts and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

 

For more information on the Town of Leland, please visit www.townofleland.com.

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