Captain Gregory D. Nolt
Delaware State Police Troop 5, located on US 13 east of
Bridgeville, is responsible for full service policing to the
citizens of western Sussex County. Troop 5 is responsible for
patrolling approximately 450 square miles making up the majority of
Sussex County. The area served by Troop 5 has historically been a
rural region with farmland scattering the landscape. A substantial
portion of this farmland has given way to development, placing a
larger demand on police services.
Troop 5 is comprised of 38 uniformed officers, three school resource
officers, three civilian personnel and a victim services officer.
One Troop 5 member, Corporal 1 Eric Whitelock, was called to serve
in Iraq with his Army Reserve Unit. Corporal Whitelock was activated
on July 11, 2008 and will serve for 13 months.
In 2008, Troop 5 saw decreases in overall complaints and criminal
arrests. There was a nine percent decrease in complaints handled and
criminal arrests made. Despite the decrease in complaints, felony
complaints rose by one percent.
Traffic arrests also saw a decrease of 12% during 2008 when compared
to 2007. However, total crashes and fatalities were down. This was
the second consecutive year that Troop 5 saw a decrease in fatal
crashes.
In December at Troop 5’s Annual Christmas Party, Troop 5 awarded its
2008 Trooper of Year. The nominees for the award were Corporal Amy
Hrupsa, Corporal Kenneth Rogers, Trooper First Class Gregory
Cartwright and Trooper First Class Anthony Andrews. Each of these
Troopers did an excellent job in 2008 in all areas; however,
Corporal Kenneth Rogers was named Troop 5’s Trooper of Year for his
dedication, discipline and overall productivity.
As in previous years, Troop 5 participated in numerous community
events such as Community Night Out’s in Blades, Bridgeville, Milton
and Seaford. Troop 5 also assisted Seaford Police Department with
the Seaford River Fest, and the AFRAM Festival as well as
Bridgeville’s Apple Scrapple Festival. Punkin Chunkin held its
second annual event in Troop 5’s territory and it appears to have
found a home at the site west of Bridgeville.
Troop 5 continued to support other statewide projects such as the
Delaware State Fair, NASCAR events at Dover Downs, the Law
Enforcement Torch Run, the Colonels 1st Annual Camp Barnes Chili
Motorcycle Ride to benefit Camp Barnes and the Camp Barnes Stock Car
Race. Troop 5 also provided officers for recruitment events for the
Human Resources Sections.
Community outreach expanded in 2008 as Troop 5 received a donation
of $5,000.00 from an anonymous donor to help throughout the year
with families and individuals in need. With this donation Troop 5
was able to provide year round assistance with payment of utility
bills, purchasing of appliances, rent, support of Nanticoke Memorial
Hospital Prescription Drug Program and other items for those in
need. The program was so successful that the same donor contributed
an additional $5,000.00 at Christmas to help with the annual
Christmas Needy Family Project and others as we locate during 2009.
As we begin 2009, the men and women of Troop 5 are prepared to face
the challenges of an uncertain economy and budget shortfalls. We
stand ready to face these new challenges as we continue to provide
professional, competent, and compassionate law enforcement services
to the people they serve.
- Information
obtained from 2008 DSP Annual Report -