Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial

The Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial is a law enforcement memorial in Dover, Delaware, United States. The memorial was unveiled in April 2010. It was vandalized in June 2020.

Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial
Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial (January 2022)
39°9′23.4″N 75°31′16.2″W
LocationDover, Delaware, U.S.
TypeMemorial
MaterialBlack granite, bronze
Opening dateApril 2010

Description

The memorial is located on the south side of Legislative Mall. It consists of three slabs of black granite and a statue. The center piece of granite contains the Seal of Delaware, a shield and rose symbol (a symbol used at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial), and the phrase "In valor there is hope" (a quote by Tacitus). Two additional adjoining slabs contain the names of 36 Delaware police officers who died in the line of duty since 1863. In front of the center-slab is Call to Duty, a life-sized bronze statue of a police officer depicted kneeling in grief. The 600 lb. statue was sculpted by Neil Brodin.[1]

History

A 2009 joint resolution by the Delaware General Assembly approved the memorial and set aside a site on the Legislative Mall. Governor Jack Markell signed the bill. According to New Castle police chief Kevin P. McDerby, some of the $260,000 raised for the monument came from assets and property seized during criminal investigations.[1]

The memorial was unveiled on April 14, 2010.[1]

Vandalism

At around 5:30 AM on June 12, 2020, an unknown individual repeatedly struck the back of the kneeling officer statue's neck with an axe, leaving multiple marks.[2] An axe and two urine-soaked flags were left at the statue's feet.[3][2] A white man from Camden, unaffiliated with Black Lives Matter, was arrested and charged after returning to the scene to retrieve his cellphone.[4]

References
  1. Brown, Jeff (April 14, 2010). Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial Becomes a Reality Archived June 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Dover Post. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  2. Hughes, Isabel (June 12, 2020). Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial in Dover Axed, State Flags Left Nearby 'Soaked' in Urine Archived June 12, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Delaware News Journal. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  3. Delaware Police Memorial Damaged by Ax-Wielding Vandal Archived June 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Associated Press. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  4. Lehman, Tom (June 13, 2020). "Camden Man Arrested for Damage to Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial in Dover". WBOC. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.


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