Since 1970 the troopers at Troop 6, Prices Corner, have been providing police services to the citizens of and visitors to the state of Delaware. Troop 6 currently serves a patrol area of approximately 82 square miles from south of the City of Wilmington to the limits of the City of Newark and west to the Pennsylvania state line. Troop 6 also patrols Interstate 95 from the Maryland state line to the southern limits of the City of Wilmington. Currently there are 45 uniformed troopers assigned to Troop 6, three uniformed administrative officers and a four-person civilian support staff.
The year 2005 brought several changes in command to Troop 6 due to promotions and transfers. Captain Timothy Winstead transferred to Troop 4 in Georgetown in April after serving at Troop 6 since September 2003. Captain Albert Homiak who replaced Captain Winstead in April 2005 was promoted to the rank of Major in October 2005 and transferred to Headquarters as a member of the Executive Staff. Captain Robert Coupe was promoted in October and assumed command at Troop 6 returning to the location at which he started his career in 1985. Also in October 2005 Lieutenant Michael Quig retired from the Delaware State Police after serving for 32 years. In December Lieutenant Michael Wintermantel was promoted and assumed the Traffic Lieutenant’s position at Troop 6 returning to the location at which he started his career in 1979. Lieutenant Thomas Brackin remains as the Criminal Lieutenant having held that position at Troop 6 since September 2003 and also serving at the troop at which he started his career in 1988. Troop 6 has four patrol shifts that are supervised by Sergeant John Rolfe, Sergeant Melissa Hukill, Sergeant Jeffrey Giles and Sergeant Michael Reader.
Troop 6 continues to be one of the busiest patrol areas in the state and in 2005 Troop 6 responded to 48,114 calls for service. During 2005 the troopers at Troop 6 made 14, 954 traffic arrests and 467 DUI arrests, an 18% and 9% increase in arrests compared to 2004. The average trooper at Troop 6 handled 545 complaints and made over 300 traffic arrests in 2005. In an effort to target aggressive drivers on Interstate 95 and Delaware Route 1 the New Castle County TAC Unit was created in July and under the supervision of then Sergeant Mike Wintermantel the Unit, staffed by a trooper from each troop in New Castle County, made over 5000 traffic arrests between July and December 2005. The NCC TAC Unit traffic enforcement effort is continuing and is now under the supervision of Senior Corporal Gregory Walsh.
In 2005 the Delaware State Police investigated 8015 traffic crashes statewide. Troopers at Troop 6 investigated 2759 crashes or 34% of those crashes. While the total number of traffic crashes investigated by Troop 6 remained the same from 2004 to 2005 there was an increase of over 40% in alcohol related traffic crashes investigated by Troop 6 rising from 136 in 2004 to 200 crashes in 2005, as compared to the statewide average of alcohol related crashes which only increased by 10%. Troop 6, with assistance from DSP Headquarters Traffic Section and the Office of Highway Safety, is aggressively targeting this issue with increased DUI patrols and the awareness of our patrol troopers, and intends to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes in 2006.
The criminal investigative and evidentiary work conducted by the troopers at Troop 6, combined with exceptional investigative follow-up by the detective units at Troop 2, produced a 14% increase in criminal arrests during the year. Troopers completed a total of 3,698 criminal misdemeanor reports and 728 felony criminal reports resulting in 2,435 misdemeanor arrests and 346 felony arrests.
Throughout the year Troop 6 personnel continued to demonstrate outstanding police work in an effort to ensure public safety. The following Troopers were recognized for their exceptional performance in 2005:
Troop 6 2005 Trooper of the Year- TFC Christopher Sutton
Troop 6 2005 DUI Ace – Corporal Jose Eschenwald
Troop 6 Traffic Ace – TFC Christopher Sutton
Troop 6 Super Sleuth – TFC Christopher Sutton
