A couple months ago Councilman Walker started a false narrative about crime going up because of increase in car break ins. Which some refer to as “let ins” since cars were not locked. But based on statistics from the police department, car break ins have not increased, steady, for the last three years. Most forced entry break ins occur at commercial businesses, shopping centers, and fitness centers, and during Christmas shopping season. A small percentage of forced entry car break ins occurs in residential areas.

Car “let ins” have been on the rise for 2017-2018, but decreased for 2018-2019 so far. Why would any one expect whomever is breaking into the unlocked cars to stop coming back again and again, when they have learned that the same car would be unlocked, and will not be locked next time.

But take away the car “let in” issue, or include it either way, Irmo was ranked 15^th Safest City in South Carolina out of 271 municipalities. Before that we were ranked 21^st Safest City. To me as long as we are 27^th or better, which puts us in the top ten percent, I think that is still a great ranking.

Regardless of ranking, and how they come about those rankings, Irmo always has been and continues to be a safe place to live. We have a great Irmo Police department, we have great officers, we have a great response time, and those are the things that really matter. Any elected official or candidate that wants to say otherwise, or wants to eliminate the Irmo Police Department altogether, as one of the candidates has said, just to have something to justify their campaign for running for Mayor or for a Council seat, shouldn't be serving at all.

If it is all about serving, then serve, and build your town up, especially if you have been serving since 2004. If it's all about being “mayor”, that's not about serving, that's about ego. That is not serving others, that is self-serving.

As I said in the Irmo News, and will continue to say, Irmo is a great town to live in, work in, and raise a family in, and a safe place to live whether #1 or #50. We have a great police department, low crime, fast response by the police, fire, and EMS. I, and other council members, are continuing and will continue to do what we can to make Irmo even better and safer, not tear it down.