Delaware State Police Announce Promotion of Captain Christy Ballinger to the Rank of Major

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Trooper Raushan Rich

Released: 022823 1228

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Colonel Melissa A. Zebley is Honored to Announce the Promotion of Captain Jason H. Sapp to the Rank of Major

Dover, Delaware – The Delaware State Police Superintendent, Colonel Melissa A. Zebley, proudly announces the promotion of Captain Jason H. Sapp to the rank of Major on November 3^rd, 2022.

On July 21^st, 1995, Major Sapp was appointed as a Trooper Recruit to the 64th D.S.P. Academy Class. Upon completing his academy training, he was assigned to Troop 1 and Troop 6 for the Field Training Officer program. After serving in a uniformed patrol capacity at Troop 6 for four years, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Unit, specifically the New Castle County Governor’s Task Force, in 2001. In April of 2002, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assumed the role of the officer in charge of the Governor’s Task Force for two years before returning to Troop 2 Patrol as a uniformed patrol supervisor. In October 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to Troop 2, where he served in both uniformed patrol and the Criminal Investigations Unit with oversight of ten special units at various times. Four years later, he was transferred to the Human Resources Section as the Deputy Director, wherein he had direct oversight of the recruitment and hiring of sworn and civilian personnel. Since his promotion to the rank of Captain in July of 2010, he has served as the Director of the State Bureau of Identification, the Troop Commander of Troop 9 in Odessa, the Troop Commander of Troop 2 in Newark, the Director of the Delaware State Police Training Academy as well as the Administrator for the Council on Police Training. In July of 2021, he was transferred to the Office of Strategic Development with oversight of Inspections and Accreditation, Planning and Research, and the Community Engagement Unit. On November 3, 2022, he was promoted to the prestigious rank of Major as a 27-year member of the Division. He will serve on the Executive Staff as the New Castle County Operations Officer.

Major Sapp has served in many leadership roles during his career and brings extensive knowledge, work ethic, and unique skill sets to this new position. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware and has also attended the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. At the time of his appointment to Major, he served as the Statewide Honor Guard Commander, a position he has held since September of 2010. Major Sapp is also a member of the Delaware State Police Diversity Council, the Delaware State Police Protocol Committee, the Delaware State Police 100^th Anniversary Committee, the Delaware State Police Museum Board of Directors, and he is the State Director for the American Association of State Troopers.

A resident of Kent County, Major Sapp is a thirteenth-generation Delawarean who is proud to have grown where his roots were planted. We appreciate his unwavering commitment to dedicated service and hard work to the Delaware State Police and the citizens of our state. We congratulate Major Sapp and his family on his well-earned promotion.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Sergeant India Sturgis

Released: 111122 1500

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Colonel Melissa A. Zebley Proudly Announces the Promotion of Captain Peter B. Sawyer to the Rank of Major

Major Peter “Pete” Sawyer has been a member of the Delaware State Police since November of 1996. Prior to his employment with the Delaware State Police, he was a patrol officer with the Rehoboth Beach Police Department for three years. He was promoted to the rank of Major on June 3, 2021 and is currently assigned as the Special Operations Officer. The duties associated with this position includes oversight of all Delaware State Police full-time Special Operations Units, to include the Intelligence and Homeland Security Section, the Delaware Information and Analysis Center (DIAC), the Aviation Section, the Maritime Unit, the Homicide Unit, Crime Lab, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Delaware Gaming Enforcement Unit, and the Executive Protection Unit.

The Special Operations officer also has oversight of all Delaware State Police part-time special units statewide to include the Conflict Management Team, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, Scuba Unit, Special Operations Response Team (SORT), Tactical Control Unit, Canine Unit, and Mounted Unit.

Prior to his promotion, Major Sawyer was assigned as the Homicide Unit Commander, Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit Commander, and Director of the Intelligence and Homeland Security Section. There, he was responsible for the daily operation of the Delaware Information and Analysis Center, which is the State designated fusion center for Delaware. In addition, he had oversight for other operational units within the Delaware State Police. These included the Maritime Unit, the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit, the High Technology Crimes Unit, the Electronic Surveillance Unit, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. Major Sawyer also served as the Troop 6 Deputy Troop Commander, Governors Task Force (GTF) supervisor, shift commander/patrol sergeant, property crimes detective, and patrol trooper.

Major Sawyer is a graduate of University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice earned in 1992 and a 2016 graduate of the 253^rd Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) National Academy.

Pete also serves on the Delaware Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Executive Committee as the Assistant Director.

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Colonel Melissa A. Zebley Proudly Announces the Promotion of Captain William Crotty to the Rank of Major

Delaware- The Delaware State Police Superintendent, Colonel Melissa A. Zebley announces the promotion of Captain William Crotty to the rank of Major on August 28^th, 2020.

Major William Crotty has been a member of the Delaware State Police since January of 1997 and is a graduate of the 66^th Delaware State Police Academy class. Upon graduation from the Delaware State Police Academy, Major Crotty was assigned to Uniformed Patrol at Troop 1 (Penny Hill). Major Crotty in May of 2001 was assigned to the Governor’s Task Force where he served until 2004 when he transferred to Uniformed Patrol at Troop 7 (Lewes). After serving at Troop 7 for two years, Major Crotty was assigned to the Sussex County Drug Unit until his promotion to the rank of Sergeant in 2007.

As a Sergeant, Major Crotty served in Uniformed Patrol operations at Troop 7 (Lewes). In the spring of 2009, Major Crotty was promoted the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned as the Regulatory Director of the State Bureau of Identification in Dover. In 2010, Major Crotty was provided the opportunity to serve in the Criminal Intelligence Section of the Delaware State Police as the Deputy Fusion Center Director and later as the Special Projects Coordinator. Major Crotty was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2016 and was assigned at the Criminal Intelligence Commander for the Delaware State Police. In the spring of 2019, Major Crotty returned to operations as the Troop Commander for Delaware State Police Troop 4 (Georgetown).

In addition to these assignments, Major Crotty was an eleven year member of the Special Operations Response Team, a member of the Delaware State Police 21^st Century Policing Committee and served four years (two as chair) of the Delaware State Police Diversity Counsel.

Major Crotty earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Delaware. He is a graduate of the Naval Post Graduate Fusion Center Leaders Program and attended the 248^th Session of the (FBI) National Academy.

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Heather Pepper

Released: 120920 1153

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Lieutenant Colonel Melissa A. Zebley Appointed Superintendent of The Delaware State Police

Delaware State Police Divisional Headquarters, Dover – The Delaware State Police proudly announces its new Superintendent, Colonel Melissa A. Zebley, appointed by Governor John Carney, today, July 9, 2020.

Lieutenant Colonel Zebley is a 28-year member of the Division and was appointed as a trooper in July of 1992. Upon completion of her academy training, she was assigned to Troop 6, Prices Corner. In September 1997 she was transferred to the academy as a Drill Instructor. She served that function until December 2001. In April 2002 Zebley was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to Troop 1, Penny Hill. She served as a patrol supervisor until October 2005 when she was transferred to the Public Information Office and later assumed the role of Director. In February 2007 she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to Headquarters as the Fiscal Officer for the Division. In April 2009 she was transferred to Troop 2 near Glasgow where she was in charge of patrol operations for the troop. In August 2009 Zebley was promoted to Captain and was transferred to Troop 1 as the Commander. In September 2010, she was promoted to Major and served on the Executive Staff as the Administrative Officer and the New Castle County Operations Officer. In August 2019, Major Zebley was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, appointed by the Superintendent, Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr. She will take command of the Delaware State Police on Monday, July 13, 2020 serving as the agency’s 26^th Superintendent.

In 1991, Lieutenant Colonel Zebley graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She also graduated from the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command in 2000. She continued her education and earned a Master of Science Degree in 2003 from Wilmington University. Colonel Zebley is a 2008 graduate of the 235th Session of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) National Academy. In addition, she has been a Wilmington University adjunct instructor and a program assistant for the Criminal Justice Program. She has organized the annual Women in Criminal Justice Leadership Conference since its inception in 2005.

“I am humbled and honored to serve as the 26^th Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. I thank Governor Carney and Acting Secretary Chandler for their faith in me to lead this division of professional and dedicated members. I pledge to serve with the dignity and honor befitting the high standards of the agency,” Lieutenant Colonel Zebley said. “The Delaware State Police remain steadfast in our mission of service to all citizens and will continue on our course of community collaboration and progressive policing.”

“Lieutenant Colonel Zebley has served the Delaware State Police and the citizens of the state of Delaware with distinction.” Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr. said. “She has served as a member of the Executive Staff for the last nine and one half years, and she will continue to build on the foundation and the rich history of the Delaware State Police as she guides the agency forward.”

Presented By Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe

Released: 070920 1810

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Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr. Formally Announces Newly Promoted Troopers

Cheswold – On Friday, February 7, 2020, at a ceremony held at the Delaware State Troopers Association Hall, located in Cheswold, Delaware State Police Superintendent Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr. announced the Division’s most recent promotions.

The newly promoted Troopers were formally announced and presented with the badge signifying their new rank, in a pinning ceremony conducted by Colonel McQueen. A standing room only crowd of family, friends and colleagues filled the hall to congratulate, support and share in this special occasion.

Also on hand to offer congratulatory remarks were Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Delaware Attorney General Kathleen Jennings, Delaware Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security Robert Coupe and President of the Delaware State Troopers Association, Lt. Tom Brackin.

PROMOTEES

Lieutenant Colonel Melissa A. Zebley

Major Matthew E. Cox

Captain Sean R. Duffy

Lieutenant J. Andrew Lloyd

Sergeant Jerold M. Huber

Sergeant Jerel W. Morton

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Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Michael Austin

Released:020720 1930

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Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr. is Honored to Announce the Promotion of Captain Matthew Cox to the Rank of Major

Delaware State Police Divisional Headquarters, Dover – The Delaware State Police Superintendent, Colonel Nathaniel McQueen Jr., proudly announces the promotion of Captain Matthew Cox to the rank of Major on September 22, 2019.

On January 26, 1990, Major Matthew Cox was appointed as a trooper recruit to the 60th D.S.P. Academy Class. Upon completion of his academy training, he was assigned to Troop 6, Prices Corner for the Field Training Officer program. After his promotion to Corporal Grade 1 on January 26, 1998, he was assigned to Troop 1-A in the Fatal Accident Investigation Reconstruction Unit (FAIR). On August 1, 2001, he was promoted to Sergeant and later assumed the role of the officer in charge of the FAIR Team Unit. This unit was later renamed the Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) on April 11, 2006. In September 2010 he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Troop 2 patrol. Five years later he was transferred to the Headquarters Traffic Operations Section as the Deputy Director. After being promoted to the rank of Captain on January 22, 2017, he continued his service in this unit as the Director of the Traffic Operations Section. During the same year, he was assigned to Troop 6 as the Troop Commander in charge of criminal and patrol operations. On May 12, 2019, he was transferred to the Office of Professional Responsibility and served as the Director. As a 29-year member of the Division and on September 22, 2019, he was promoted to the prestigious rank of Major serving on the Executive Staff as the New Castle County Operations Officer.

Major Matthew Cox has served in many leadership roles during his career and brings extensive knowledge, work ethic and unique skill sets. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with a Chemistry Minor from Salisbury University. He is currently the Officer in Charge of the Delaware State Police Pipes and Drums. We appreciate his unwavering commitment to dedicated service and hard work to the Delaware State Police and the citizens of our state. We congratulate Major Matthew Cox and his family on his well-earned promotion.

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