Captain Robert C. Hawkins

Delaware State Police Troop 3 is located on US Route 13A between Woodside and Camden. Currently commanded by Captain Robert C. Hawkins, Troop 3 consists of 88 sworn officers and four civilians. Troop 3 is the only troop in Kent County and houses both uniform troopers and criminal detectives. Out of the 628 square miles in Kent County, Troop 3 provides police services to 595 square miles -- the largest of all state police troops. The population of Kent County is 140,000 people. As with all Delaware State Police troops, Troop 3 is a full-service police agency.

On a yearly basis, Troop 3 supports the operations of the Delaware State Fair, the NASCAR races at Dover Downs International Speedway, and the Dover Air Force Base Air Shows along with the community events "Safe Summer Day" at Brecknock Park and "Delaware Night Out" in Camden.

The Troop 3 Patrol Section is under the command of Lt. Joseph E. Huttie. The Patrol Section includes four shifts, each supervised by a sergeant. In addition to the four shifts, there is a one-person Direct Response Unit. During 2006 the Patrol Section made 19,280 traffic arrests, 627 DUI arrests, 8,373 criminal arrests, and handled a total of 22,598 complaints. Three troopers are assigned to the Crash Reconstruction Unit (CRU). In 2006, 25 fatal crashes were handled by CRU. During 2007, the patrol section made 21,034 traffic arrests, 600 DUI arrests, 4,354 criminal arrests, and handled a total of 23,281 complaints. A total of 18 fatal crashes were handled by CRU.

The Criminal Investigative Unit (CIU), under the command of Lt. Gregory W. Donaway, consists of twenty four detectives who are assigned to several units including Major Crimes, Property Crimes, Domestic Violence, Fraud, Youth Aid, and the Evidence Detection Unit. In 2006, the CIU handled 2,330 cases and made 5,027 arrests. The Drug Task Force and Governor's Task Force were commanded by Lt. Bruce Von Goerres. The GTF Unit made 3,606 criminal arrests and 526 traffic arrests. Unit members seized 13,776 grams of marijuana, 663 grams of cocaine, 389 grams of crack, $57,000 in cash, 35 guns and 172 other weapons.

During 2007, Lt. James P. Fraley took command of the Criminal Investigative Unit. During 2007, CIU handled 2,546 cases and made 4,820 arrests. Also, during 2007, Lt. Rodney M. Layfield assumed command of the Drug Task Force and Governor's Task Force Units at Troop 3. During 2007, these Units made 2,864 criminal arrests, and 463 traffic arrests. Unit members seized 95,330 grams of marijuana, 807 grams of cocaine, 1,144 grams of crack, $257,510.00 in cash, 28 guns and 26 other weapons. In addition 295 local fugitives were arrested by Troop 3 GTF.

Of the many incidents handled by Troop 3 during 2006, several cases stand out. One of those incidents involved the crash of a U.S. Air Force C-5 on April 3, 2006. As Troop 3 personnel were preparing to be inspected by DSP Executive Staff, a C-5 aircraft crashed just south of the Dover Air Force Base after experiencing engine trouble. Troop 3 troopers were called upon to secure the crash site.

Troop 3 Evidence Technicians, along with the Aviation Section, quickly obtained video footage which was then turned over to U.S. Air Force personnel and proved to be very helpful in the investigation of the crash. For the next several months, troopers took part in the closure of Delaware Route 9 and assisted in securing the crash site.

On June 7, 2006, Troop 3 detectives received a phone call from the Maryland State Police about blood and human matter that was found in a work truck in Maryland. The Homicide Unit was called in and the grizzly results of this investigation led to the location of two Delaware men who had been murdered in Delaware and buried in a wooded area just over the Maryland line.

In July, twelve members of the Troop 3 Explorers' Post and their advisors attended the national conference in Arizona. This was a great opportunity for these young people to take part in the conference and see a part of the country many had never seen.

On October 3, 2006, after the tragic shooting of several Amish school girls in Lancaster County, PA, troopers from Troop 3 provided security at each of the ten Amish schools in Kent County. Sergeant Michael Houdek, who speaks fluent German, responded to each of the schools and explained, in German, to the students and teachers what the State Police were doing and what they should do if they encountered any suspicious activity.

Sadly, on October 28, 2006, 38-year-old Cpl/2 Antonio DiAlessandro died after a two-year battle with lung disease. Cpl/2 DiAlessandro was honored with a full military funeral on November 2, 2006. During Cpl/2 DiAlessandro's tenure at Troop 3 he worked as a uniformed trooper, canine officer, and a member of the Governor's Task Force. He was the Troop 3 2000 Trooper of the Year and was the recipient of four departmental awards, including a 2005 Lifesaving Award, the 2005 Sons of the American Revolution Law Enforcement Award, a 2002 Exceptional Performance Award, and a 2001 Valor Award. Tony was a 13-year veteran of the Delaware State Police and was also a Delaware Air National Guard Reservist.

On December 4, 2006, troopers from Troop 3 and a Clayton PD officer responded to a Smyrna area home. After locating and removing a child from the home, troopers entered the residence and discovered a resident who had been brutally murdered. The suspect saw the troopers and attempted to flee from a window. The troopers and the Clayton officer were able to apprehend the suspect, who still had two knives on his person.

On February 8, 2007, five search warrants were executed in the Magnolia area by Troop 3's GTF and DTF Units. A total of 12 firearms were seized along with 43.1 grams of crack cocaine and 4.4 grams of marijuana. A total of seven defendants were arrested for trafficking cocaine.

On May 4, 2007, Troop 3 detectives became involved in an embezzlement case involving the City of Harrington. The investigation revealed that the City's former Finance Director embezzled over $500,000. Search warrants of her residence yielded multiple vehicles and property that was purchased with illegal funds. It also linked her daughter, son-in-law and husband in these crimes. All four were arrested and the Finance Director has pled guilty and was sentenced to prison.

On May 30, 2007, four high-risk drug search warrants were executed in Unity Lane, Greenwood. A total of 19 individuals were arrested for 83 felonies and 25 misdemeanors and 10 local fugitives were apprehended on outstanding capiases. This was after a several month investigation by Troop 3 DTF. Seized in these search warrants was $22,503.00, two firearms and a stolen motorcycle.

On July 27, 2007, Scott Alan Hornick was taken into custody near Hartly. Hornick had escaped in 2001 from a New Jersey prison and had been profiled on America's Most Wanted several times. During his time as a fugitive, Hornick was involved in committing burglaries up and down the East Coast but he had eluded capture because he had assumed the identity of Glenn Scott Kennedy. Hornick had been arrested and released on July 25th for offensive touching. At this point, he felt he had three days before police would know his identity. He was taken into custody as he was preparing to leave the area. After making the arrest on Hornick, members of DTF and GTF learned the whereabouts of two armed robbers who were preparing to flee the state. They located David Evans and Ronald Hughes north of Dover and took them into custody after a brief chase.

On July 31, 2007, Kent County Levy Court agreed to give Delaware State Police Troop 3 a $75,000 Grant to purchase needed equipment. These funds will be used to purchase two outfitted Harley Davidson Motorcycles, hand held radars and computers. The motorcycles will be utilized traffic enforcement in Kent County and accident investigation. In addition they will be used to provide escorts for fallen members of our armed forces as they leave the DAFB.

For 2006 and 2007, the Troop 3 award winners were:

Trooper of the Year
Corporal Billy Killen, 2006
Tfc. Jeremiah Lloyd, 2007

Detective of the Year
Detective David Hanich, 2006
Detective Thomas Paskevicius, 2007 2006-2007

Drug Investigator of the Year
Cpl/1 Carey Brower, 2007

Furthermore, in April 2006, Corporal Jason Minear was awarded the prestigious Trooper of the Year Award for his efforts in 2005.

As in past years, the men and women of the Delaware State Police Troop 3 look forward to serving the citizens of Kent County and the State of Delaware.