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 -