Meet The Team
Advertise with Us!
Subscribe
Subscribe
Image
  • Government
  • Culture
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Weekly Review
  • Legislative Tracker
ImageImage

*Update – Missing Person Found* State Police Issue Gold Alert for Missing Smyrna Man

Staff Writer May 15, 2024Delaware State Trooper, Police & Fire, RSS

The Gold Alert issued on May 10, 2024, by Delaware State Police Troop 9 for Zakhary Damron has been canceled. Zakhary has been located.

The post *Update – Missing Person Found* State Police Issue Gold Alert for Missing Smyrna Man appeared first on Delaware State Police – State of Delaware.

RELATED STORIES:

  • Newark outlines safety improvements for Main Street

    Newark outlines safety improvements for Main Street

    06/12/2025
  • New Castle County Council advances speed camera pilot for Milltown Road

    New Castle County Council advances speed camera pilot for Milltown Road

    06/12/2025
  • The ordinance would raise the retirement age of New Castle County police officers from 55 to 57. (Photo by rwcar4 FLICKR)

    New Castle County Council reviews proposal to raise police retirement age

    06/12/2025
  • Randle was taken into custody during interviews at New Castle County Police Headquarters. She has been charged with one count of felony falsely reporting an incident. (Photo provided by New Castle County Police)

    Mother charged after false kidnapping report that triggered Amber Alert

    06/12/2025
  • Nola Dinkins, pictured, is a Black female toddler approximately 3 feet tall and 25 pounds. She was last seen in Newark on June 10, 2025.

    UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled; case now a homicide investigation

    06/11/2025
  • Leager was widely known in the Smyrna-Clayton area, and detectives are specifically interested in speaking with anyone who may have seen or spoken with him in the days before the assault.

    Nine years later, State Police still seeking answers in 2016 homicide

    06/11/2025
  • Middletown Town Council Meeting.  (Left to Right Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Eisenbrey, Fire Commissioner David Majewski, Sr., Mayor Kenneth Branner, Jr, (Town of Middletown) Fire Commissioner Ronald Marvel, Fire Commissioner William Kelly, and Delaware Fire Sprinkler Coalition Chairperson, Paul Eichler.)

    Delaware State Fire Commission recognizes Middletown for requiring residential fire sprinklers

    06/10/2025
  • Delaware State Police Major Peter Sawyer retires after more than 30 years of service

    Delaware State Police Major Peter Sawyer retires after more than 30 years of service

    06/10/2025
channels4 profile
Staff Writer

Share this Post

A Ramone Family Business

Community Safety

  • Newark outlines safety improvements for Main Street

    NEWARK-  The City is moving forward with a range of proposed safety enhancements along Main Street aimed at improving mobility and reducing traffic conflicts for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. In collaboration with the Newark Police Department, Aetna Hose, Hook, and Ladder Company, the University of Delaware, DelDOT, and a contracted transportation consultant, the city has released a detailed outline of potential improvements designed to address long-standing safety concerns in the downtown area.  According to a public information sheet, the goal is to create a “coordinated path forward” that prioritizes all road users. Main Street has long served as a hub of commerce and student activity, but officials say increased vehicle congestion and pedestrian traffic have made safety improvements a growing necessity. RELATED STORY: Groundbreaking held for $26.6M George Read Village Redevelopment in Newark The safety upgrades include over two dozen potential changes, starting with short-term fixes like better signage, speed feedback displays, and adjusted traffic signals to aid pedestrian safety. Other ideas include adding curb bump-outs, raised crosswalks, and restriping lanes to improve walkability and make space for bikes. Long-term strategies focus on larger capital improvements, such as potential lane reconfiguration or conversion to two-way traffic, and a comprehensive streetscape redesign that balances transit needs with walkability. City officials are encouraging public engagement and feedback on the proposal. Future phases of the project will involve public comment periods and further coordination with stakeholders.  A timeline for implementation will be determined by feasibility studies, funding availability, and prioritization by the city and DelDOT.

  • New Castle County Council advances speed camera pilot for Milltown Road

    The New Castle County Council is advancing with a pilot program to install speed cameras on Milltown Road and, most likely, McKennan’s Church Road. Ordinance 25-071 establishes an electronic speed monitoring system that will be piloted for five months. Funded by state legislators Rep. Kim Williams and Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos, using approximately $28,500 in community transportation funds. Council approved the measure after hearing from residents and police officials, who described the stretch of Milltown Road as increasingly dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. Dorothy Raider, a resident of Milltown Road for more than 40 years, described the road as a “mile straightaway” with no stop signs or lights and no sidewalks, forcing families, schoolchildren, and bus riders to use the shoulder. “Our mailboxes are on the road, so we access them on the shoulder. Kids and commuters wait on the shoulder,” she said. Jill Lorensky, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1989, called the corridor a “strode,” a hybrid of a street and a road that prioritizes car traffic at the expense of safety. “Ten percent will die if hit by a vehicle going 23 miles per hour. Twenty-five percent will die at 32 miles per hour. Fifty percent will die at 42,” she told council. “We’re tired of waiting for something worse to happen.” RELATED STORY: New Castle County Council reviews proposal to raise police retirement age Councilman Tim Sheldon, a lead sponsor, emphasized that the cameras are not a revenue grab. “This is not a moneymaker,” he said. “If I’ve heard that one time, I’ve heard it a hundred times. This is not I-95—that’s where the money is made by out-of-staters.” Sheldon said the pilot will be evaluated after five months to determine effectiveness. “If this works, and I think it will, we’ll cut speeding down.” Police Chief Jamie Leonard confirmed that the county is contracting with the same vendor used for state-run traffic enforcement. “The machine costs $5,700 a month to rent,” Leonard said. “Once we’ve recouped costs for things like signage, ticket review, and staff time, any surplus revenue goes back to the Office of Highway Safety. It’s at best a revenue-neutral bill.” Leonard added that county officers will not manage enforcement directly. RELATED STORY: Delaware State Fire Commission recognizes Middletown for requiring residential fire sprinklers “The citations will be reviewed by our traffic unit, but officers will not be pulled from patrol. This is meant to be a substitute for them.” Council members confirmed that signage and public notices will be posted in compliance with state law. Vehicles will only be ticketed for traveling 11 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit. Leonard noted that the cameras will be mounted on portable trailers and can be relocated as needed. “We’re working with DelDOT on signage logistics,” he said. “Ideally, we’ll mount warning signs under existing speed limit signs.” While some councilmembers expressed concern about staffing shortages, Leonard reassured them the program’s design avoids diverting patrol officers from other priorities. “Our goal is to address safety without stretching our officers any thinner than they already are,” he said. The ordinance passed with broad support and no public opposition during the meeting. Council members said they plan to revisit the issue after the pilot period to assess the data and determine if the program should expand.

  • The ordinance would raise the retirement age of New Castle County police officers from 55 to 57. (Photo by rwcar4 FLICKR)New Castle County Council reviews proposal to raise police retirement age

    At the June 10 Public Safety Committee meeting, New Castle County Councilmembers discussed a proposed ordinance to increase the mandatory retirement age for county police officers from 55 to 57. Introduced as Ordinance 25-084, the measure seeks to amend Chapter 26 of the New Castle County Code to support officer retention and align with trends in other jurisdictions. “This ordinance comes to us from consideration from council, working with the executive office, and working with our friends in the police department and within the FOP, as well,” said Councilman Kevin Caneco. “This raises the retirement age of New Castle County police officers from 55 to 57,” he said. “This is good, sensible legislation, that helps increase retention for some of our more senior officers.” Caneco cited comparisons to police departments in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York City, where his father, Lieutenant Joseph Caneco, retired after 30 years of service, noting the shift would keep New Castle County competitive in retaining experienced officers. “Those of us who have been in organizations, police organizations, military organizations, we know when you get to those senior levels, having that experience and having that knowledge on the force is beneficial,” Caneco said. RELATED STORY: Delaware State Police Major Peter Sawyer retires after more than 30 years of service Other councilmembers expressed support for the ordinance, including Councilman Penrose Hollins.   “I just want to compliment Councilman Caneco. I think he’s done his homework by reaching out to other jurisdictions. And I also believe that it is a benefit to this county and to our police force,” he said. The  Ordinance is scheduled to be considered by the full council on June 24. Federal Retirement policy and law enforcement While New Castle County explores raising the retirement age for local police, federal policymakers are also grappling with similar challenges. Many federal police officers, despite protecting federal property, personnel, and the public, are not classified under federal law as “law enforcement officers” eligible for enhanced pay and retirement benefits. According to a 2023 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), around 12,600 federal officers across 17 agencies lack statutory retirement coverage, which includes a mandatory retirement age of 57 and higher pension multipliers. Most of these officers work for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, often outside Washington, D.C. Seven agencies reported that the roles of federal officers have changed since 2014, due to increased threats, civil unrest, and staffing challenges. However, legal definitions have not kept pace with those evolving duties. Congress requested the GAO study as part of the 2023 appropriations act to consider policy updates, but changes remain complex. Key questions include whether any new benefits would apply retroactively, how physical standards should be addressed, and the budgetary impact, especially with retirement contributions potentially rising from 16.6% to over 35% of pay. The conversation at the local level mirrors these national concerns: how to maintain a skilled law enforcement workforce while balancing financial responsibility and long-term personnel planning.

  • Randle was taken into custody during interviews at New Castle County Police Headquarters. She has been charged with one count of felony falsely reporting an incident. (Photo provided by New Castle County Police)Mother charged after false kidnapping report that triggered Amber Alert

    A Newark woman has been arrested and charged with filing a false report after allegedly fabricating the kidnapping of her 3-year-old daughter, Nola Dinkins, which prompted an Amber Alert and multi-agency overnight search. On Tuesday evening, police responded to the 500 block of Gender Road after 31-year-old Darrian Randle reported that Nola had been abducted at gunpoint by an unknown white male. According to Randle, the man approached her vehicle with a handgun and took the child, fleeing in a dark-colored SUV driven by a white female. READ: UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled; case now a homicide investigation That account led authorities to issue an Amber Alert and launch an intensive investigation involving the New Castle County Police Criminal Investigations Unit and the FBI. But detectives later determined that Randle’s story was false. The Amber Alert was canceled Wednesday, and the case has now been turned over to the Maryland State Police as a homicide investigation. Randle was taken into custody during interviews at New Castle County Police Headquarters. She has been charged with one count of felony falsely reporting an incident. She was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on $1 million cash bail.

  • Nola Dinkins, pictured, is a Black female toddler approximately 3 feet tall and 25 pounds. She was last seen in Newark on June 10, 2025.UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled; case now a homicide investigation

    THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED  The Amber Alert issued Tuesday evening for 3-year-old Nola Dinkins has been canceled, and the case is now being investigated as a homicide, according to New Castle County Police. The alert was issued after Nola’s mother reported that an unknown white male armed with a handgun had abducted the child from her vehicle on the 500 block of Gender Road in Newark. She told police she had pulled over to comfort her daughter when the man approached, took Nola, and fled in a dark-colored SUV driven by a white female. Following an overnight investigation involving the New Castle County Police Criminal Investigations Unit and the FBI, detectives determined the mother’s initial account was false. “There is no danger to the public,” police said in a statement. “Sadly, this incident is now being treated as a homicide investigation by the Maryland State Police.” Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding Nola’s whereabouts or any arrests made. New Castle County Police said they are continuing to work closely with the FBI and Maryland State Police, who are now leading the investigation. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

  • Government |
  • Culture |
  • Business |
  • Education |
  • Health |
  • Police & Fire |
  • Sports |
  • Weekly Review |
Image

Follow Town Square Live

Copyright © 2023 Townsquare Live
Founded in 2011

Copyright © 2022 Town Square Live
  • Government |
  • Culture |
  • Business |
  • Education |
  • Health |
  • Police & Fire |
  • Sports |
  • Weekly Review |
Image
  • Government
  • Culture
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health
  • Police & Fire
  • Sports
  • Weekly Review
  • Legislative Tracker

    • FEEDBACK