Patrol
Captain John J. Laird Sr. - 2006-July 2007
Captain Nathaniel McQueen Jr. - August 2007-present

Troop 2 is located on the rapidly growing US Route 40 corridor in the Bear/Glasgow area. It is the largest troop in the state and is home base for over 140 troopers and civilian employees. Troop 2 houses a multi-tasked operation including administration, patrol, and criminal investigations. Troop 2 also provides a satellite office for the State Bureau of Identification. In May 2006 Troop 2 was affected internally by the Division's re-organization plan. Troop 2 currently operates as a fully functioning patrol facility and as a New Castle County wide Criminal Investigative Unit.

In 2006 and 2007, Troop 2 patrol personnel included an average of 45 uniformed troopers, three administrators, and five civilian staff members. Troop 2 patrol personnel with the assistance of communication center personnel managed 38,086 calls for service in 2007. In the last two years, Troop 2 patrol area continued to experience retail growth and expansion of residential development.

In May 2006 and 2007, Troop 2 hosted its Annual Public Safety Awareness Open House. Both occasions were cooperative efforts with the Delaware State Police, Christiana Fire Company, Middletown Fire Company, and the Aetna Fire Company. These successful endeavors provided the public with an opportunity to view the many Delaware State Police special units and to tour Troop 2, the Division's state-of- the-art facility. Our local citizens were given an inside look at the criminal and patrol operations at Troop 2. The Fire services also provided fire safety awareness and demonstrated emergency response techniques.

During the period from January 2006 through December 2007, Troop 2 crime fighting and crime prevention efforts resulted in a reduction in robberies, vehicle thefts, burglaries, and overall violent crime. Troop 2 patrol troopers averaged 535 complaints, per trooper. In addition to the heavy complaint load, troopers averaged 80 criminal arrests, for a 2 year total of 6,918. The Troop 2 community experienced an overall 5% reduction in Part A Crimes in 2007.

Coordinated by Lieutenant Melissa Hukill, Troop 2 patrol personnel continued to focus on homeland security and crime prevention with several initiatives. In 2007 Troop 2 patrol worked in conjunction with the intelligence unit and conducted several gang initiatives in the Troop 2 patrol area. These initiatives identified several members of known gangs throughout the community. In an effort to address the Troop 2 communities' quality of life concerns patrol troopers in addition to their daily duties assisted the Criminal Investigative Unit with several prostitution initiatives resulting in several hundred arrests of local prostitutes and their clients.

Troop 2 continued the Two-Trooper Criminal Car Initiative (TTCCI). During the summer of 2006, Troop 2 committed to a Two-Trooper Car for 70 straight nights. The enforcement efforts were phenomenal. The concept of the TTCCI is based on teamwork and an aggressive, proactive approach to improve the quality of life for our citizens. Since the inception of the initiative in June of 2005, the TTCCI is responsible for arresting 518 individuals on a total of 947 criminal charges and apprehending 162 fugitives wanted on 344 outstanding warrants. In addition to a multitude of drug arrests, the troopers have recovered stolen property valued at $48,920, seized $34,603 and seized numerous guns and other weapons. The TTCCI has also been very effective in their traffic enforcement totaling 548 traffic and DUI arrests. The TTCCI provided the foundation for Troop 2's partnership with the Attorney General's Office in the enforcement of the Nuisance Abatement Law. The objective of this initiative is to hold locations and businesses accountable for their actions and conduct that foster criminal activity that deteriorates the quality of life for our citizens.

The troop traffic enforcement and daily directed patrols coordinated by Lieutenant Paul Taylor have continued to increase during the 2006 and 2007 period. Troopers continued to make our highways safer by actively focusing on collision reduction and enforcement. Troop 2 Troopers actively targeted aggressive drivers, dangerous moving violations and Drunk Driving violators. Troopers also participated in a host of public safety and enforcement initiatives sponsored in partnership with the Office of Highway Safety. Troopers conducted numerous seatbelt, DUI, and safety checkpoints during this period.

As result of our collective traffic enforcement efforts traffic fatalities were reduced by 19% from 2006. In 2007, total collisions decreased 2.5% from 2006. In addition alcohol related accidents and alcohol related injury accidents decreased by 10.5%. Troop 2 patrol troopers averaged 380 traffic arrests per Trooper, for a 2 year total of 33,530 traffic arrests and 1,207 DUI arrests.

Both 2006 and 2007 have been successful years which can be attributed to outstanding efforts of Troop 2 Troopers and personnel. Troop 2 Patrol was awarded the Colonel's Cup for achieving the top fitness score of all troops and sections in the state for 2006 and again in 2007. Also, several troopers should also be recognized for their exceptional performance in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

Troop 2 Trooper of the Year 2006: Trooper First Class William Thompson Troop 2 Trooper of the Year 2007: Corporal Timothy Stock Troop 2 Crime fighter of the Year 2006: Corporal Nicholas Terranova Troop 2 Crime fighter of the Year 2007: Trooper First Class Jason Russo Troop 2 DUI Enforcer of the Year 2006 and 2007: Corporal Patrick Wenk Troop 2 Traffic Ace of the Year 2007: Corporal Grade 1 Suzanne Lowman

MADD Awards for 2006 were presented to Corporal Wenk, Trooper M. Terranova, Corporal P. Stock, Cpl/1 Lowman, TFC Hevelow, and TFC Rash for their outstanding DUI enforcement. An additional 13 Troopers will be receiving the MADD Award for 2007.

Troop 2 personnel continue to participate in many community based programs. Troopers supported programs such as the Special Olympics' Torch Run and Pigskin Pass, and the Law Enforcement Memorial Run. Several Troop 2 troopers also attend the Buddy Walk established by the National Down Syndrome Society to increase awareness of Down Syndrome.

Thanks to many community partnerships, and the hard work and dedication of Troop 2 supervisors and personnel, 2006 and 2007 proved to be productive and successful years. Troop 2 personnel remain committed to serving the residents and visitors to the state.

Criminal Investigative Unit
Captain Robert Coupe

In May of 2006, the Troop-2 Criminal Investigative Unit (CIU) was restructured, as part of the Division's reorganization of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Prior to the reorganization, Troop 2 CIU was under the command of Captain John Laird, Sr., and the statewide Special Investigations Unit was under the command of Captain Charles (Chip) Simpson. During the reorganization, SIU (New Castle County) was absorbed by the Troop 2 CIU, and Captain Robert Coupe assumed command of all criminal investigative functions in New Castle County. Lieutenants Patrick Ogden and John Slank were his support staff in 2006. In 2007, Lieutenant Ogden was promoted to Captain and took command of Troop-1 and Lieutenant Slank was transferred to Internal Affairs. Lieutenants James T. Hulings and Jason Sapp were transferred and joined Captain Coupe to make up the current CIU Administration.

The 2006 reorganization brought about the merger of the Auto Theft Unit and the Burglary Unit to form the Property Squad. This union also fostered a renewed spirit of cooperation between the Drug Unit and the New Castle County Governor's Task Force. In July of 2006, the Office of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (ONDD) was acquired from the Division of Health and Social Services. This acquisition brought the total complement of detectives, agents, and civilians to 85.

Troop-2 CIU has investigative responsibility for everything from quality-of-life issues to any serious criminal offense that occurs within New Castle County. To effectively accomplish this goal, CIU consists of multiple specialized units to include: the Major Crimes Unit, Robbery Squad, Property Squad, Drug Unit, Governor's Task Force (GTF), Financial Crimes Unit, Career Criminal Unit, Evidence Detection Unit, Youth Aid Division, School Resource Officers, Polygraph, and Court Liaison, in addition to Federal Liaison Officers that are assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Attorney's Office, and the U.S. Marshal's Office. As is usually the case with any major investigation, some of CIU's biggest success stories came as a result of team projects where resources were combined with other DSP sections, as well as outside law enforcement agencies. Examples of some of these successes are listed below:

During the summer of 2007, the Major Crimes Unit developed information to support that there was another serial rapist victimizing prostitutes in New Castle County. Numerous leads were developed giving detectives a clear picture of the suspect's habits, allowing them to determine when and where the suspect would most likely rape his next victim. The collective resources of CIU were then utilized to place surveillance teams in that area. These efforts paid off in a matter of weeks when the suspect was apprehended as he drove his next victim to the banks of the C & D Canal to rape her. The suspect cooperated fully and confessed to numerous incidents. Fourteen separate attacks were linked to the suspect. He is currently incarcerated and awaiting trial.

The Major Crimes Unit also handled another high-profile case in 2007. A baby boy was left in the parking lot of the Christiana Medical Center in Newark. A note was left with the child indicating that he was being abandoned for financial reasons. Using the media, investigators broadcast photos of the child in the hope that someone would recognize him. These efforts worked when a landlord in Hightstown, New Jersey, recognized the child and identified his mother as his tenant. The case took a turn when it was learned that the child's mother was missing under suspicious circumstances and the boy's father fled to Italy. As the investigation progressed, detectives strengthened the abandonment case against the father. This case gained national media attention for its twists and turns as investigators built their case to the point that they had enough to charge the father with abandonment. In addition, they worked with the Delaware Attorney General's Office to negotiate his return from Italy and his surrender in August of 2007. Since that time, he has pleaded guilty to Child Abandonment and Reckless Endangering 2nd Degree and has been sentenced to probation. The missing person case involving the child's mother is still active and ongoing.

In the summer of 2007, The Robbery Unit investigated a string of commercial robberies between Wilmington and Newark. The suspects in these incidents robbed numerous businesses at knifepoint. CIU combined resources and generated leads which led to surveillance on the suspects. Investigators observed them entering a video store and threatening the clerks with knives. Troopers responded to the aid of the victims and quickly took one suspect into custody. The other armed suspect resisted and lunged at a trooper. This trooper used his firearm to neutralize the threat, shooting the suspect in the leg. Both suspects were arrested for numerous robberies and related charges. The suspect shot during the confrontation plead guilty to the video store robbery and is awaiting sentencing.

The Property Squad continued picking up on trends and linking burglaries together with great success. In one case, detectives conducted surveillance in the Pulaski Highway area of Bear, the surveillance was based upon their analysis of burglaries believed to be related. Two suspects were apprehended in the act of committing a burglary to a construction trailer and linked to 23 other burglaries.

In all of the above investigations and many others, the Career Criminal Unit (CCU) has been utilized with major success. Detectives assigned to this unit are chosen for their ability to blend into the surrounding area and observe seasoned criminals as they commit their illegal acts. The unit has also been tasked with targeting retail theft rings and the fencing operations that support them.

The Drug Unit, in conjunction with the Intelligence Section, as well as the Kent and Sussex Drug Task Forces and the Wilmington Police Vice Unit, concluded an eighteen-month investigation that resulted in a 161 count indictment of 32 defendants for Racketeering, Organized Gang Activity, weapons and related drug charges. The indictments came at the conclusion of a 60-day wiretap investigation involving members of the Pagan Motorcycle Club. During "Operation Cold Shot," detectives utilized five confidential informants, worked in an undercover capacity to gather intelligence information, monitored a 90-day Pen Register and Trap and Trace device, presented 13 interceptions of wire communication orders, and executed 27 search warrants. These investigative efforts led to the seizure of over 2,000 grams of cocaine, 13 handguns, four vehicles and over $38,000.00 cash. This comprehensive investigation effectively dismantled the Delaware chapter of the Pagan Motorcycle Club.

The Governor's Task Force (GTF) is responsible for addressing quality-of-life issues involving probationers, street-level drug dealers, and general street crime. Troopers team up with probation officers to verify that probationers are complying with the conditions of their release and to attack "hot spots," such as New Castle area motels that have been identified as a nuisance. A tremendous example of the unit's success can be found by looking at their seizures of illegal narcotics and handguns. In 2006/2007, the GTF unit seized 121 guns, made 2,093 criminal arrests, and apprehended 228 fugitives.

The Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) worked with the DSP High Tech Crimes Unit and arrested a defendant in Delaware's first "phishing" case. The defendant used spam e-mail to obtain credit card information from victims. Using that information he purchased computers and resold them in Philadelphia or on the internet.

The Youth Aid Division (YAD) and School Resource Officers investigate criminal activity involving students that occur on school property. Throughout the course of the last two years, members of YAD and the SRO program have worked closely with school administrators to keep schools safe, arrest violators of the law, and to make various presentations related to drug use, drinking, smoking, and the use of seatbelts in motor vehicles.

The Office of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs (ONDD) quickly acclimated to working within the Division of State Police. Many of their cases involved large rings of individuals illegally diverting prescription drugs. These rings typically operated with stolen and/or forged prescriptions. To combat these fraudulent prescriptions and to track stolen prescription pads, ONDD is taking efforts to propose legislation requiring a uniform and secure script be utilized for all prescriptions written in Delaware.

The Evidence Detection Unit (EDU) is responsible for the secure storage of evidence which supports all criminal cases. In serious cases, EDU often responds and performs the collection of that evidence. EDU supports CIU and the four patrol troops located in New Castle County making this task seem that much more impressive.

In 2006, Detective Vincent Clemons was named the CIU Detective of the Year. His hard work and dedication on the Pagans Motorcycle Club investigation stood out as a large individual accomplishment. Upon receiving this award, he was quick to point out that little could have been accomplished without the team of troopers who supported him throughout the investigation. In 2007, this same belief was conveyed when the entire Robbery Unit was nominated and won the award for CIU Detective of the Year. Detectives Joseph Rose, Gary Potts, Corey Godek, and Christian Brown are an extremely cohesive group of individuals who demonstrate; on a daily basis, what it means to be a team.

In closing, CIU is a very large amalgamation of specialized units. Although each unit is separate in its specific mission or purpose, they are all similar in the fact that they are comprised of skilled investigators. The detectives assigned to these units understand that teamwork is the key to making things work. They operate under the belief that the strength and efforts of the team combined, is much stronger than the sum of its parts alone.