Editor, Gazette-Journal:

On Aug. 28, the night after Hurricane Irene, my family experienced a crisis and needed to contact the sheriff’s department. They responded immediately, and Lt. Mark Hawkins was most helpful and comforting. Within an hour and a half of our call, with some help from a couple of our neighbors, our problem was solved.

Many thanks to Lt. Hawkins and the whole department for their swift actions, and to two of the best neighbors going—Dorothy and Brian Bayford.

Susan S. Conner

Gloucester, Va.
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