Mark Farrall, Newark's new police chief.

Lifelong Newark resident to be its next police chief

Ken MammarellaGovernment, Headlines

A lifelong Newark resident who has served on the Newark Police Department for 28 years will be its next leader. Mark Farrall, now the acting chief, will become chief of police on Feb. 1. He replaces Paul Tiernan, retiring after 15 years. “I am humbled by the opportunity,” Farrall said in a statement. “I am extremely proud of the men …

Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos

Wilmington’s new police chief is 26-year department veteran

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Wilmington has a new police chief: Wilfredo Campos, a person of color and a captain who has been with the department for 26 years. Campos, 50, grew up in Wilmington and will become the city’s 33rd police chief and the first person of Hispanic descent to be named to that post. He will be paid $200,000 and begin his job …

ellerbe Police arrest man for 2015 murder

Wilmington crime report: Murders, shootings down in 2022

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

The number of murders in Wilmington was at its lowest for 15 years in 2022, and the number of shootings was the second lowest in 17 years, according to a new report issued by Delaware’s largest city. Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and lame duck Chief of Police Robert J. Tracy on Tuesday released the Wilmington Police Department’s 2022 Year-End Crime …

Wilmington crime

Wilmington police chief selected to lead St. Louis PD

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki hasn’t yet said how the city plans to replace police Chief Robert Tracy, who on Tuesday was selected to lead the St. Louis, Missouri Police Department. Tracy’s selection as the Gateway City’s top cop was announced by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones Tuesday morning. It’s the first time in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s 214-year …

Wilmington crime

Wilmington police chief to step down

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The city of Wilmington is in need of a new top cop. Police Chief Robert Tracy has been selected as a finalist to become police commissioner in St. Louis, Missouri, he announced Monday night. Whether or not he gets the job, Tracy will leave the Wilmington Police Department, the mayor’s office confirmed Tuesday. It’s not clear when Tracy plans to …

Wilmington Police Department Community Fairs

Wilm. PD hopes weekly walks will address social, health needs

Charles MegginsonHeadlines, Government

Wilmington police officers will take weekly walks through the city to engage with residents and distribute information about social services, Mayor Mike Purzycki announced Wednesday. The initiative aims to address unmet social service and public health needs in Wilmington neighborhoods, according to the mayor. “Our police officers have demonstrated time and time again that if they have an opportunity, beyond …

Wilmington Police Department Community Fairs

Wilmington PD hopes to unite police, community with 3 fairs

Charles MegginsonCulture, Headlines

The Wilmington Police Department hopes to build stronger relationships with community members by hosting three community resource fairs throughout the month of September.  The fairs will build off the success of the National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships.  The events will feature police officers representing a range of assignments and positions as well as partner …

a sign in front of a house

Public infighting returns to Wilmington City Council

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Photo/City of Wilmington Wilmington City Council members must hand over all email, phone and text records from Jan. 2021 to March 2022 in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by one of their own.  Councilwoman Shané Darby, D-District 2, submitted the FOIA request because she says a group of seven city council members have been holding private …

a screen shot of a man in a suit and tie

Purzycki, FOP: Congo’s police shaming ‘baseless, abhorrent’

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Police & Fire

LEFT TO RIGHT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT TRIPPI CONGO, MAYOR MIKE PURZYCKI, POLICE CHIEF ROBERT TRACY The mayor of Wilmington and the union that represents the city’s police officers are pushing back against the City Council president’s claims that the department is failing to promote diversity and morale within its ranks.  After leading the City Council to a Jan. 20 vote of …

Police

Wilmington council president goes public with WPD ‘whitest Black guy’ trophy

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Around Christmas of 2019, a Black male detective in the Wilmington Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division was given a trophy by his white male supervisor with an engraved message that reads, “Whitest Black Guy in the Office Award.” The trophy has been openly displayed on the detective’s desk since it was presented to him, according to City Council President Trippi …