NEW CASTLE – On Friday, House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown joined fellow elected officials, law enforcement officers from across the state, and members of the community to present a tribute to the New Castle County Police Department, thanking them for their proactive work in neutralizing a threat to the State of Delaware and the University of Delaware, as well as their ongoing work in the criminal investigation.
Last week, New Castle County (NCC) Police performed a traffic stop on a vehicle found in a park after-hours and arrested the owner, a University of Delaware student, following his refusal to exit the vehicle.
During their initial investigation, NCC police found a handgun that had been converted into a submachine-type gun loaded with 27 rounds, several extended gun magazines, body armor and a notebook containing plans to conduct an attack on UD’s campus. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Castle County Police Department.
County Executive Marcus Henry, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, and several other leaders joined Speaker Minor-Brown in commending Police Officers First Class Jay Scerbo, Nathan Jupiter, and Christoper Hewlet, who have 16 years of service between them, and the entire New Castle County Police Department for their work in preventing any acts of violence before they could occur.
“I can’t overstate how thankful I am for what these officers did. This could have been a terrifying, life-changing week for thousands of students, faculty, and families. Instead, because of their quick action, we’re all safe,” said Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown
“The danger these officers confronted – and stopped – was real. We are talking about an individual who had a fully formed plan, the equipment to execute it, and weapons that could have caused unimaginable harm. Their actions prevented what could have been a horrific tragedy, and I’m proud we were able to honor and celebrate that extraordinary work today.”
“Thanks to the vigilance and professionalism of the New Castle County Police Department, an unspeakable tragedy was stopped before it could ever occur. This is the standard of excellence our officers bring to work every day, and our community is safer because of their unwavering dedication,” said New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry.
“Thanks to the proactive work of these patrol officers, a dangerous threat to our community was stopped before it could escalate into violence. Their professionalism, vigilance, and commitment to public safety embody the values we expect and the courage our residents depend on every day. We also extend our sincere thanks to our federal partners, whose collaboration was instrumental in bringing this incident to a safe and successful conclusion,” said New Castle County Chief of Police Colonel James J. Leonard III.
You can view a recording of the tribute presentation here.
