Date Posted: Wednesday, February 26th, 2020

Dover – On Monday, February 25, 2020, the Delaware State Police held a ceremony to welcome the newly selected Honorary Commanders for 2020.  This prestigious event led by our Superintendent, Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr. took place at the Delaware State Police Museum located at 1425 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE.  Colonel McQueen spoke at the event and helped recognize the importance of the ceremony.

Delaware State Police Headquarters Administrative Staff partnered with Dawne Nickerson-Banez: (not photographed)

Ms. Dawne Nickerson-Banez has been the Chief of Community Engagement at Dover Air Force Base since April 2016. She serves as the liaison between the civilian community and the base community by planning, organizing, coordinating, and conducting documentation, command information, community engagement, and media operations activities. She is a trusted advisor to Wing leadership and project officer. Dawne hosts the Dover AFB Honorary Commander program with 40 participants. The 436^th Airlift Wing is a combined C-5 and C-17 base focused on rapid, global airlift by providing worldwide movement of high priority personnel and cargo. Dover AFB is home to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center, Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, the Department of Defense’s largest aerial port, and the Air Mobility Command Museum.

Troop 1: Captain John Laird partnered with State Representative Krista Griffith:

Ms. Krista Griffith is State Representative for the 12th District of Delaware, which includes neighborhoods in Hockessin, Greenville and North Wilmington. Currently Krista serves on the following House committees: Telecommunications, Internet & Technology (chair); Judiciary (vice chair); Natural Resources (vice chair); Economic Development, Banking & Insurance; Energy; and Veterans Affairs. Additionally, she serves on the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, a state agency created to improve Delaware’s response to domestic violence and sexual assault.

Troop 2 (Patrol): Captain Jeffery Whitmarsh partnered with Lee Mikles: 

Mr. Lee Mikles is the co-owner of OMG Hospitality and operates four “Grain” restaurants in Delaware and Pennsylvania.  His flagship restaurant is Grain No. 1 on Main Street in Newark. A little over a year after starting his first restaurant, Grain H2O opened its doors on the harbor in the Summit Marina in Troop 2’s area. Lee is a published author and participates in various boards serving Delaware Residents.  His company’s motto is “Award Winning Restaurants that Build Communities.”

Troop 2 (CIU): Captain Melissa Hukill partnered with Steve Masterson (pictured with Lt. Robert Jones):

Mr. Steve Masterson is a retired Non-Commissioned Officer, who proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. Prior to launching Waste Masters, Steve held senior leadership positions at Loomis Fargo & Co., and USA Waste. Steve has led the company in championing many veteran-based causes as a way to thank our nation’s bravest. Last month, Waste Masters presented its Hometown Hero Award for 2017 to the Delaware State Police Mounted Patrol. Established in 2012, the Delaware State Police Mounted Patrol began with only three members and has served as a key outreach unit to communities and provided security at some of the most popular events in Delaware.

Troop 3: Captain Rodney Layfield partnered with Dr. Kevin R. Fitzgerald: 

Dr. Kevin R. Fitzgerald is the superintendent of the Caesar Rodney School District. Dr. Fitzgerald began his career in education in Maryland in 1978 as a Social Studies and English teacher. After 13 years in the classroom, Dr. Fitzgerald moved to Delaware becoming Caesar Rodney High School’s assistant principal until 1998, then principal until 2007 when he was selected as superintendent. Dr. Fitzgerald has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware, teaching courses in Leadership and Secondary School Administration. In 2018, he was selected as the National Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents and 2019 was selected as the National Association of Educational Office Professional’s Administrator of the Year. Dr. Fitzgerald has served or serves on a number of Boards including: The United Way of Delaware, the Friends of the Delaware Archives, the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association and the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS).

Troop 4: Captain William Crotty partnered with Bishop Roland Mifflin:

Bishop Roland Mifflin first worked in his former church as a Deacon and an anointed singer. He was later ordained a Minister, an Elder and a local Pastor of The Bible Church of Christ, Inc. in Dagsboro, Delaware. After twenty-one years of dedicated service to the Lord in ministry, God called him to pastor a church, Power & Love Outreach Ministries, Inc. also located in Dagsboro. In 2009, Bishop Mifflin graduated with a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Enlightened Bible Institute in Millsboro, Delaware. In March 2017, the Lord led him to move the church in a different direction and the church he originally established was renamed The Church of a New Beginning, Inc.  Bishop Mifflin has a heart for the young people and he is looking forward to building a vision that will minister to the needs of the young and old in the community.

Troop 5: Captain Alice Brumbley partnered with Evelyn Wilson: 

Mrs. Evelyn Wilson is a pioneer in community leadership whose personal mission is to exhibit methods to help families unite as a cohesive unit, while also providing a support system on which families can rely.   She worked for 25 years in home health care, 6 years in adult foster care, and 5 years as residential youth/after school staff at People’s Place. For 14 years, Mrs. Wilson served as the volunteer Youth Program Coordinator for Coverdale Crossroads community while simultaneously serving as president of the Coverdale Crossroads Civic Association for 12 years. In addition, she has been an active member for First State Community Action Agency Executive Board of Directors for 8 years. In 2017, she founded and became president of Just a Hand up Community Navigation Association, which is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Just a Hand Up serves Sussex and Kent Counties. Their mission is to strengthen the communities, while helping people in need restore their hope, reach their potential, and improve their quality of life.

Troop 6: Captain Jennifer Griffin partnered with Jason Veasey  (pictured with Lt. Andrew Hudak):

Mr. Jason Veasey and his wife are 2nd generation owners of Pax Incorporated True Hardware in Prices Corner, Wilmington. Pax True Value Hardware has been there for all of Wilmington’s dreamers, DIYers, and problem solvers. They focus on assisting customers with all the tools of the trade for remodels and repairs, as well as the knowledge to help make any project possible. Their niche is that they treat every customer like a part of the family. Mr. Veasey has been a consistent advocate for the Delaware law enforcement community for over a decade.

Troop 7: Captain Darren Short partnered with Leah Brown:

Ms. Leah Brown divides her time as the Director of the Philadelphia Arms Townhomes Inc in Ellendale, Delaware and works part-time as a Nurse for Christiana Care. She teaches self-management workshops for the Division of Public Health; mentors high school and college students and also volunteers for various organizations. Leah graduated in 2014 from Delaware Technical Community College and became a Licensed Practical Nurse continuing on and in 2017, she graduated from Delaware State University with a degree in Public Health where she received the prestigious Presidential Leadership Award. In May 2019, she graduated from Delaware State University with a Master’s degree in Public Administration and in the Spring of 2020, she will be attending Wilmington University to pursue a degree in the Doctor of Social Science and Preventative Science Program. It is her passion and life’s mission to serve and afford others the opportunities she was given.

Troop 9: Captain Daniel Hall partnered with Thomas Poehlmann:

Mr. Thomas Poehlmann is a highly respected educational leader with 25 years of experience working with young people: in the classroom, and later as a middle and high school administrator. Today, he’s a member of the senior leadership team in Delaware’s fastest-growing school system. In 2018, Tom was asked to take on the challenge of establishing the first Office of Safety, Security, and Operations for the Appoquinimink School District.  Last year, he successfully secured a grant to introduce an anonymous reporting app, “Stop It!” to his home district. Priorities for 2020 and beyond include expansion of the District’s security force with the installation of School Constables and/or School Resource Officers on every campus and continued growth in prevention and response capabilities across the District.

Both the Delaware State Police Troop Commanders and the newly selected Honorary Commanders are looking forward to their mutually beneficial partnerships and working alongside each other throughout the state this coming year.

Our Superintendent, Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr. and the men and women of the Delaware State Police express our gratitude and thank all of the amazing and talented Honorary Commanders for their participation in this highly honored program. This well-regarded community program brings police and civic leaders together to enhance the partnership with the communities we serve.

Congratulations on your selections and thank you for your commitment to serve others.

Thank you to Gene Shaner for being there for us and taking the best photos!

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe

Released: 022620 1342

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