IN NEED OF AN ENDING

The resignations last week of three deputies could mean that federal and
state investigations of the Sheriff's Office's Drug Division that have been
going on for three years are nearing an end. Or the resignations could have
no relationship at all to those investigations.

Certainly the fact that James O. Hunt, Steve Lovin and Billy Hunt all
resigned on the same day, July 25, raises suspicions. But it should be
remembered that Sheriff Kenneth Sealey disbanded the Drug Division and all
three deputies could simply have become disenchanted with their jobs after
being reassigned to patrol duty.

James O. Hunt told a reporter that he was returning to college to begin
another career. Billy Hunt could not be reached, and Steve Lovin hung up on
a reporter without explaining his decision. Sheriff Sealey did tell a
reporter that the resignations are not linked to the investigations, but
what else could he say?

That has been the problem with these never-ending investigations: too much
has been left to the public's imagination.

So far, the investigations of the Sheriff's Office have resulted in charges
against three former deputies - and rampant speculation of widespread
corruption at the Sheriff's Office that has yet to be proven. Because the
allegations focused on the unit that patrolled Interstate 95 for drugs,
Sealey chose to disband that unit, a wise move we believe, but one that has
given drug couriers an easier pass through Robeson County.

Without making a judgment on guilt or innocence in regard to these three
former deputies, we hope that their resignations are a signal that these
investigations are near an end and that speculation will soon be replaced
with solid information. We understand the need for a thorough
investigation. But it seems to us that three years is excessive.
Investigators should either come forward and display whatever evidence they
have of wrongdoing or announce publicly that the investigation has ended.