2006 Trooper of the Year!
On Friday, April 28, 2007, Colonel Thomas F. Mac Leish announced the 2006 Delaware State Police Trooper of the Year. The award was presented to Detective Vincent H. Clemons of Troop 2 Criminal Investigation Unit at the 2007 Annual Awards Ceremony.
Detective Clemons is a distinguished and decorated trooper who began his law enforcement career with the Wilmington Police Department in 1990. After six years of serving the citizens of Wilmington, Detective Clemons joined the Delaware State Police in March 1996. Since becoming a trooper, he quickly excelled in his duties and as a result was transferred into the Special Investigations Unit in April 2000.
As a detective, he has conducted over 500 felony drug investigations, wrote and executed more than 150 search warrants, authored 13 interception of wire communication orders and seized more than 14,000 grams of Cocaine; 67,800 MDMA Pills; and $500,000 currency. Detective Clemons was nominated for Trooper of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and as been the recipient of 12 Exceptional Performance Awards, a Life Saving Award and a Superintendent’s Award. In addition to these accolades, Detective Clemons served as an Assistant Supervisor for the Special Investigations Unit.
Detective Clemons was also recognized for his service to the citizens of this state for an incident in which he was instrumental in capturing three suspects who committed an armed robbery in Middletown. On Saturday, July 15, while off duty, Detective Clemons observed three suspicious subjects in the area of the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant located in Middletown. While walking to his vehicle, he observed a subject standing on the sidewalk next to an adjacent business, who had a bulge in his waistband. Detective Clemons entered his personal vehicle, drove across the street, and established surveillance on the businesses.
This same subject pulled a mask over his head and robbed the Great Wall Restaurant. The suspect fled in a vehicle occupied by two other subjects. Detective Clemons called the police and asked for assistance. He followed the vehicle, observed one of the suspects exit the vehicle, and throw an unknown object, possibly the handgun, into the Delaware River. This suspect then fled on foot. Detective Clemons continued following the suspect vehicle until additional police personnel arrived and stopped the vehicle. The two suspects in the vehicle were taken into custody and subsequently provided investigators with the identity of the third suspect. All subjects were arrested for the Armed Robbery.
During his acceptance speech, Detective Clemons expressed his gratitude for being selected as the 2006 Trooper of the Year and commended all of the other nominees for their outstanding accomplishments. Detective Clemons acknowledged the sacrifice his family has made and expressed his gratitude for their support throughout his career. He referenced several co-workers and leaders within the agency and thanked them for all their support and help.
The entire Executive Staff is proud and honored to have Detective Vincent H. Clemons represent the Delaware State Police as the Trooper of the Year for 2006.
Annually, the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police and the Delaware State Police Executive Staff select the Delaware State Police Trooper of the Year. The individuals listed below were nominated for the 2006 Trooper of the Year Award. The fact that each of these troopers was nominated is an honor and very commendable:
- Trooper Theodore Stipa, Troop 1
- Trooper William R. Thompson III, Troop 2
- Detective Vincent H. Clemons , Troop 2 Criminal Investigation Unit
- Trooper First Class William O. Thompson III, Troop 3
- Corporal/1 Andrew Parytka, Troop 4
- Corporal Douglas Brietzke, Troop 6
- Trooper First Class John Andrew Lloyd, Troop 7
- Corporal Stanley Jiminez, Troop 9
