Patrol
Captain Melissa Hukill
In 2003 Troop 2 was dedicated to the rapidly growing Bear/Glasgow
community. It is the largest and one of the busiest troops in the
state and is home base for over 140 troopers and civilian employees.
Troop 2 operates as a fully functioning patrol facility and as a New
Castle County wide Criminal Investigations Unit. Troop 2 also
provides a satellite office for the State Bureau of Identification
and a community room which serves as a venue for numerous events and
meetings conducted by civic groups and community organizations.
In 2008, Troop 2 patrol personnel included an average of 45
uniformed troopers, three administrators, and three civilian staff
members, one cadet and one student intern. Troop 2 patrol personnel
with the assistance of communication center personnel managed 38,587
calls for service in 2008. Troop 2 patrol troopers increased their
productivity and made significantly more criminal arrest and traffic
arrest per trooper.
During the past year, Troop 2 patrol operations were very
productive. A proactive approach to addressing citizen’s fear of
crime and safety concerns, and a focus on addressing quality of life
issues were at the forefront.
In 2008, Troop 2 crime fighting and crime prevention efforts
resulted in a 25 percent increase in per trooper arrest rates. There
was also a slight increase in Part A Crimes in 2008, this was
preceded by two years of overall crime reduction. Troop 2 patrol
troopers averaged 477 complaints, per trooper. In addition to the
heavy complaint load, troopers averaged individually 82 criminal
arrests and a combined Troop total of 3,678 criminal arrests.
Troop 2 crime enforcement efforts were coordinated by Lieutenant
Timothy Lamarche. Troop 2 patrol personnel increased our focus on
quality of life concerns, and continued to focus on homeland
security and crime prevention. In 2008 Troop 2 patrol worked in
conjunction with the intelligence unit and conducted several gang
initiatives in the Troop 2 patrol area. In an effort to address the
Troop 2 communities’ quality of life concerns patrol troopers in
addition to their daily duties increased their focus on quality of
life concerns such as prostitution, loitering, and trespassing.
Patrol troopers also assisted the Criminal Investigative Unit with
several prostitution initiatives resulting in several hundred
arrests of local prostitutes and their clients.
In June 2008 Troop 2 enhanced the Two-Trooper Criminal Car
Initiative (TTCCI). During the period from June- December the Troop
(TTCCI) two troopers were assigned full time to the unit. This
enabled the assigned troopers to increase their community presence
and their focus and familiarity with targeted areas on a daily
basis. Their enforcement efforts were phenomenal. During this period
the (TTCCI) handled a total of 273 complaints resulting in a total
of 773 criminal charges. The unit also seized $20,364.00 in U.S.
Currency and made numerous drug, and local fugitive arrest.
The TTCCI continues to provide the foundation for Troop 2’s
partnership with the Attorney General’s Office in the enforcement of
the Nuisance Abatement Law. The objective of this initiative is to
hold locations and businesses accountable for their actions and
conduct that foster criminal activity that deteriorates the quality
of life for our citizens.
The troop traffic enforcement and daily directed patrols were
coordinated by Lieutenant Paul Taylor who retired in August 2008
after more than 30 years of dedicated service. His initiatives were
continued by Sgt. Joseph Spagnolo. Our traffic enforcement efforts
have had a significant impact in making our highways safer. By
actively focusing on collision reduction and traffic enforcement
Troop 2 Troopers actively targeted aggressive drivers, dangerous
moving violations and Drunk Driving violators. Troopers also
participated in a host of public safety and enforcement initiatives
sponsored in partnership with the Office of Highway Safety. Troopers
conducted numerous seatbelt, DUI and safety checkpoints during this
period.
As result of our collective traffic enforcement efforts, traffic
fatalities were reduced by 8% from 2007. In addition, alcohol
related accidents decreased by 13% and alcohol related injury
accidents decreased by 28%. In 2008, total collisions decreased by
9%. Troop 2 patrol troopers increased per Trooper traffic arrest
rates by 10 percent. Troopers averaged 383 traffic arrests per
Trooper and combined for a total of 19,992 traffic arrests. Troop 2
Troopers also led the entire state averaging 16 DUI per trooper for
a total of 770 DUI arrests.
Troop 2 personnel also continue to participate in many community
based programs. Troopers supported programs such as the Special
Olympics’ Torch Run and Pigskin Pass, and the Law Enforcement
Memorial Run. Several Troop 2 troopers also attend Special Olympics
events. The troopers interacted with the participants and presented
their medals.
In May 2008, Troop 2 hosted its Annual Public Safety Awareness Open
House. As in the past, this occasion was a cooperative effort with
the Delaware State Police, Christiana Fire Company, Middletown Fire
Company and the Aetna Fire Company. This successful endeavor
provided the public with an opportunity to view the many Delaware
State Police special units and to tour Troop 2, the Division’s
state-of- the-art facility. The Fire services also provided fire
safety awareness and demonstrated emergency response techniques.
In December 2008, Troop 2 hosted an eight week Citizens’ Police
Academy. The attendees were educated about the responsibilities and
tasks of a trooper. On December 17, 2008 twenty-four citizens
graduated from the academy with a new and unique perspective about
the Delaware State Police.
There were many exemplary performances by members of Troop 2 during
2008. Corporal/2 Suzanne Lowman received the Troop 2 Traffic Ace
Award for her tireless work ethic in the area of traffic accident
investigation and traffic enforcement. Corporal Christian Hevelow
and Trooper First Class Jason Russo received the Crime Fighters of
the year award for their proactive enforcement and their relentless
efforts to enforce quality of life concerns. Corporal/1 Patrick Wenk
was recognized as the Troop DUI Ace for the third year in a row for
his concerted efforts to combat drunk drivers. Corporal/1 Wenk has
lead the entire state in DUI arrest for the last three years. In
2008 he amassed 97 DUI arrests. Corporal Anthony Tenebuso was named
Troop 2 Trooper of the Year. His commitment to service and his work
ethic in all areas of enforcement was truly outstanding.
Several other troop personnel were also recommended for Departmental
awards for their outstanding performance, distinguished acts of
courage and heroic life saving efforts.
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Troop 2 supervisors and
personnel, 2008 proved to be a productive and successful year. Troop
2 personnel remain committed to serving the residents and visitors
to the state while placing emphasis on building and maintaining
lasting relationships and partnerships.
Criminal Investigative Unit
Captain John Evans
In 2008, the Troop-2 Criminal Investigative Unit (CIU) was under the
command of Captain Robert Coupe, assisted by Lieutenants Jason Sapp
and James T. Hulings.
CIU is comprised of over 70 Troopers who operate in New Castle
County to support the four patrol troops (Troops 1, 2, 6 and 9),
specifically in the area of criminal investigations. CIU has the
investigative responsibility for everything from quality-of-life
issues that affect our citizens to any serious criminal offenses
that occur in New Castle County.
CIU detectives are selected both for their skills as investigators
and their motivation to solve crimes. They are assigned to
specialized investigative units designed to maximize their
effectiveness in their area of expertise. These units include
Robbery, Property Crimes, Financial Crimes, Major Crimes, Polygraph,
Youth Aid, Evidence Detection and Drugs. In addition, CIU
investigators participate full-time in several task forces with
federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
U.S. Marshals, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives.
Three additional units who are not so easily defined are The
Governor’s Task Force (GTF), the Career Criminal Unit (CCU) and the
School Resource Officers (SROs). GTF is a unit comprised of DSP
Troopers and officers from Delaware Probation and Parole. Their
combined efforts focus on offenders who are on probation and
violating conditions of their release from prison through continued
criminal activity. CCU has a similar mission; however they focus on
repeat offenders who are often involved in some type of organized
crime or pattern-type crime. Lastly, twenty-one SROs are assigned
full-time to specific high schools or middle schools in New Castle
County. They also work closely with detectives from the Youth Aid
Unit to cover over sixty additional schools in the county.
The Drug Unit and GTF often-times work on hot spots to minimize
street-level drug dealing and crime. In 2008, combined, these two
units seized 3,013 grams of cocaine, 90.0 grams of crack cocaine,
93.44 grams of heroin, 239 lbs. of marijuana and a large assortment
of other drugs. In addition, they seized
48 firearms, made 1,294 criminal arrests and apprehended 54
fugitives.
In March of 2008, the Delaware State Police named the 2007 Trooper
of the Year. Detective Mary L. Bartkowski was awarded this honor for
her extraordinary performance during that year. As an investigator
assigned to the Major Crimes Unit in CIU, she (along with her unit
members) solved a college campus shooting, an abandoned child case
that was tied to a murder investigation in a neighboring state, and
a serial rapist investigation with over a dozen separate victims.
In closing, CIU serves as a well-trained and productive
investigative arm of the Division. The unit continues to operate
under the belief that teamwork is the key to success. The primary
focus remains on the quality of the investigations through the
utilization of all available resources to accomplish the goal of
solving crimes. Investigators assigned to CIU also act as resources
themselves and are immediately available to assist other DSP units
and colleagues in other law enforcement agencies should the need
arise. The demanding work conducted by these investigators is
pivotal to the effectiveness of the Division in serving the public.
- Information obtained from 2008 DSP
Annual Report -