DELAWARE STATE POLICE HONOR GUARD
Captain Melissa Zebley
The DSP Honor Guard Unit currently consists of 58 active members statewide. In order to participate in the Honor Guard, troopers must demonstrate sound character, good military bearing, exceptional maintenance of their uniforms and be willing to give their time to represent the Division. In 2008, the Honor Guard conducted six training sessions and recruited several new members.
In 2008, the Honor Guard Unit participated in 29 events. The unit participated in DSP annual memorial service events in May at the DSP Academy and Legislative Hall and in December during the St. Polycarp’s Memorial Service. In addition, the unit participated in several other events sponsored by the Division, including ceremonies, conferences, graduations, a service in Delaware County, Pennsylvania recognizing fallen police officers and a September memorial service establishing a permanent monument to fallen Troop 3 Delaware troopers. The unit also participated in 14 funerals, including the services of five retired DSP members: Captain William Hutchison (Ret.), Lieutenant Edward Petka, Sr. (Ret.), Lieutenant Homer Bramble, Jr. (Ret.), Major Leo Daney, Sr. and State Speaker of the House Colonel John P. Ferguson (Ret.).
In 2008, the DSP Honor Guard Unit represented the Division at the funerals of four Philadelphia Police Department officers:
- Sergeant Stephen Liczbinski, who was shot and killed while responding to a bank robbery call;
- Police Officer Isabel Nazario, who was killed when her patrol car was struck by a stolen vehicle;
- Sergeant Patrick McDonald, who was shot and killed during a violent struggle following a traffic stop; and
- Sergeant Timothy Simpson, who was killed when his patrol car was struck by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver. Sergeant Simpson was formerly patrol partners with the late Sergeant Liczbinski.
Troopers also attended two funeral services of two Maryland troopers killed when their medevac helicopter crashed while evacuating accident victims: Corporal Stephen Bunker (Ret.) and Trooper First Class Mickey C. Lippy.
During 2008, the unit recognized two long-standing members of the Honor Guard Unit. Lieutenant Paul H. Taylor was a member of the Honor Guard Unit for 26 years. He served as the Officer in Charge from 1995 until his retirement in 2008. Captain Robert Coupe became a member of the Honor Guard in 1988. He eventually became the Deputy Officer in Charge of the unit, where he served until 2008. Captain Coupe will continue to serve as a member of the DSP Pipes and Drums. During the tenures of these leaders, the Honor Guard Unit underwent numerous changes, including: establishing an Honor Guard uniform pin, re-establishing summer britches for Honor Guard members, updating the unit’s equipment and establishing formal training for unit members. Their years of commitment and dedication to the unit and to the Delaware State Police should be honored, as they both made significant contributions to the history of the Delaware State Police.
- Information obtained from 2008 DSP
Annual Report -
