Trooper Irina Celpan recently graduated, from the Delaware State Police Training Academy, in February of this year and has swiftly put her language skills to use. She is newly assigned to Troop 4 in Georgetown and is fluent in Russian, Romanian in addition to English.

Trooper Celpan, from the charming nation of Moldova, has first-hand experience as a J-1 student during her time spent here in the Summer of 2012. She participated in the work-study based exchange and visitor program that promotes cultural interactions where visitors teach, study, receive training or demonstrate special skills. The J-1 program is also for students who need practical training that is not available to them in their home country. Trooper Celpan’s Eastern European roots and excellent language skill sets have made her a great asset for the Delaware State Police and our local law enforcement partners alike.

Trooper Celpan is lauded for her efforts and goodwill by her colleagues. She graciously makes herself available to the students working at the beach and makes them feel she is approachable. She has been in high demand from our local law enforcement partners at the beach to help them with their community outreach efforts.

Trooper Celpan has attended three Foreign Safety Seminars on May 30th, June 13th, and June 27th that were held at the Edgewater House, Sea Colony in Bethany Beach. Working with the Bethany Beach Police Department, Trooper Celpan educated the Foreign J-1 Students on Bicycle Safety laws, Victimization and Personal Safety this summer. She had the opportunity to share experiences from her perspective as a student. She explained to the students the importance of having goals and pursuing them. She also touched on the differences between police in the United States and police back home in her country of Moldova.

On June 26th, 2018, she was invited to Saint Martha’s Church Parish Hall in Bethany for the International Student Picnic. While working with the Ocean View Police Department, Trooper Celpan attended this event with over 100 students from Romania, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Croatia, Poland, Ireland and Kazakhstan. The church volunteers welcomed the students with local foods such as hamburgers, hotdogs, fried chicken, and cookies. It was an opportunity for them to meet other students and local residents. Trooper Celpan spoke to both Romanian and Russian students and answered questions about summer jobs, housing, trips, vehicle rentals, shopping and local transportation.

Background:

Trooper Irina Celpan worked as a cashier in Bethany Beach at the Valero Gas Station on Route 26, and her second job was at Tim’s Aloha on the boardwalk serving shaved ice. She had only two days off during the summer of 2012 and never complained working toward her personal goals. She learned the quality of hard work and the ability of surviving in a country full of strangers.

She learned to speak English after she arrived in the United States and said, “It was challenging but not impossible!”

She bought her first vehicle during the Winter of 2013, which it helped “me to spread my wings towards other jobs, other towns.” She was later, hired at IHOP in Rehoboth as a server. She met many friendly and regular customers that encouraged her to go to college.

In August of 2015, she registered at the Delaware Technical and Community College in Georgetown. She took Advanced English classes during the first semester at DTCC and obtained a certificate for finishing “English as a Second Language” program. She pursued all the classes for a Criminal Justice Major. She participated in the Law Enforcement Option Program during the last semester and graduated from the Delaware Technical and Community College with a 4.0 Grade Point Average with the Outstanding Student Award in 2017.

She also joined the Dover Cadet program for two years, where she enforced city ordinance violations and provided security and assistance at special events.

Quote:

“I truly believe if you communicate to people in a way they can understand, one can make a connection however; if you speak to them in their own language, it can touch their heart. I, as a Delaware State Trooper, want tourists, international students, and locals to understand that “Justice” has no limits and they should not be afraid to trust us.”

“I want to thank my administration for allowing me to attend to all the J-1 student meetings! I enjoyed every single second being around them and explaining to them the importance of trusting police. I answered questions about personal safety, bicycle safety laws, and police departments. I spoke to some students in Romanian and to other students in Russian. I received positive feedback from the Sea Colony Staff and the Saint Martha’s Church volunteers. Thank you so much!”

Respectfully, Trooper Irina Celpan, Delaware State Police

 Presented by the Director of Public Information, Sergeant Richard Bratz

Released: 070418 1241

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