Captain John A. Yeomans

Troop 7 is situated on the busy SR 1 corridor between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach in eastern Sussex County. The Troop territory is best characterized by its beaches and continuing commercial and residential development. The territory services not only the busy resort communities in Sussex County, but also incorporates the rapidly growing Long Neck area and more agricultural areas to the north and west.

Commanded by Captain John A.Yeomans, Troop 7 is comprised of 43 patrol personnel, 4 members of the Crash Reconstruction Unit (CRU), three administrators, three full time civilian personnel, three Cadets and one trooper assigned as a School Resource Officer to the Cape Henlopen School District.

The period between 2006 and 2007 brought many unique challenges as well as many significant accomplishments to the men and women assigned to Troop 7. During this period, the Division established the reduction of fatal crashes and injuries on Delaware roadways as one of its main priorities. Troop 7 was chosen as a pilot Troop to advance this important goal and the troopers assigned to Troop 7 rose to the challenge. It is a well established fact that a high percentage of persons killed in traffic crashes fail to wear a seatbelt. In addition nearly half of fatal crashes in 2006 involved an operator who was under the influence of alcohol. As a result, Troop 7 chose to focus on these two violations in order to prevent fatalities and reduce the number of persons injured on our roadways.

In 2007, troopers assigned to Troop 7 arrested 680 persons for driving under the influence; this was 140 arrests higher than the 3 year average and 18 arrests higher than last year's total. Troop 7 enforcement activities included sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and other Office of Highway Safety sanctioned enforcement initiatives that specifically targeted underage drinkers, such as "Cops in Shops" and "Teen Hot Spot Patrols."

A zero tolerance policy for seatbelt violations was also adopted as a part of the fatal reduction strategy. As a result, Troopers from Troop 7 wrote 1,892 citations for violations of the Delaware primary seatbelt law. This marked a 26% increase in enforcement compared to 2006. Other traffic initiatives adopted during the strategy involved the use of DelDOT trucks as platforms for lidar and radar enforcement to target aggressive drivers and focus on dangerous intersections. Troopers from Troop 7 also partnered with the Sussex Cyclists, a local group dedicated to reducing serious crashes involving bicyclists along the SR 1 corridor, to conduct a series of bicycle safety checkpoints along SR 1 between Rehoboth Beach and Lewes.

The Troop 7 Motorcycle Unit was detached from patrol shifts to focus on traffic enforcement along the SR 1 corridor and other traffic "hot spots" in an effort to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities in the Cape Region. The unit also provided numerous escorts for various ceremonies including several funeral processions of fallen soldiers in the war in Iraq.

As a result of the comprehensive traffic safety strategy, fatal crashes, as well as alcohol related crashes involving personal injury were reduced.

During this period, Troop 7 also established a bicycle patrol unit. Two police bicycles were purchased along with the uniforms and equipment to outfit troopers and cadets. The bicycle unit focused its attention on the prevention of crime and various traffic and parking issues along the SR 1 corridor. The unit also participated in the bicycle safety checkpoint initiative along SR 1 and conducted patrols in Rehoboth Outlets during the holiday shopping season.

As a part of the Division's ongoing commitment to community policing, Troop 7 sought to enhance cooperation between law enforcement and the citizens it serves through the establishment of a Citizen's Advisory Committee, the Neighborhood Watch Program, and the Youth Explorers Program.

During the period many significant individual accomplishments were noted. Tfc. Andrew Lloyd and Tfc. Kyle Archer were chosen as the Troop 7 Troopers of the Year in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Cpl/3 William Matt and Cpl. Nicole Oldham both received citizenship awards from the Rehoboth Kiwanis Club for their ongoing service to area youth. In 2006, Ms. Barbara Drake, Administrative Assistant, received the "Civilian of the Year Award" for her outstanding work ethic and her contributions to both Troop 7 and the Division as a whole.

In April of 2007 the Sussex Garden Club donated the materials, plants and labor for a Memorial Garden in honor of Corporal Christopher Shea and Trooper Kevin Mallon who were killed in separate traffic crashes while assigned to Troop 7.

On Friday July 20, 2007 Troop 7 conducted a sobriety checkpoint in honor of Corporal Christopher Shea, who was killed by a drunk driver on July 18, 2004. The checkpoint was preceded by a press conference held at Troop 7 in front of the Memorial Garden. The event was attended by Secretary Mitchell, Colonel MacLeish, members of the Executive Staff, Troop 7 Administration and personnel, members of the news media, representatives of MADD, the Office of Highway Safety and the Shea family.

Troop 7 will continue to face challenges in the coming years. Continuing growth and development, major road construction projects and the constantly changing nature of the resort communities will require the troopers who work at Troop 7 to be both innovative and flexible in their approach to law enforcement. They will continue to work toward the achievement of the Division's overall goals by providing the highest standard of professional law enforcement services to area residents and visitors to eastern Sussex County.