National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2020

I am both grateful and overwhelmed tonight while taking a look at my saved Google searches for news stories and articles relating to January 9th. To be honest, here on Delmarva I've seen little mention of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, but that could be simply because I've missed something written in support of our police. Maybe I didn't catch something that area media sources posted, or which was shared by local leaders in our community. If I did overlook anything, please, be sure to share it with us.

How You Can Participate In Thank A Police Officer Day

We were asked a question this week: "Where is this event held?" We realize that some folks may not be aware exactly how they can be a part of September 15th, when the 7th annual event happens. Our answer: It's held wherever citizens and area residents wish to participate in thanking local law enforcement - it starts with you! Anyone can choose to adopt a department, have a meal delivered to a nearby agency, rally your neighborhood to display blue ribbons in support of our police officers, hold a church service for LEO's, help your children or classroom write letters to each officer at your local PD.

Deputy Sheriff Jason Charles Schwenz, Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Department

Wednesday 5/30: Today we acknowledge Deputy Jason Schwenz, the second of two law enforcement officers to pass on February 13th, 2001. He was the first Queen Anne's County deputy to be killed in the line of duty.

Deputy Jason Schwenz and Officer Michael Nickerson were shot and killed after responding to a noise complaint. The two officers and a state trooper had responded to the complaint and had been given permission to enter the mobile home by the suspect's mother, who lived across the street. The officers were in a screened in porch and had identified themselves when the suspect told them not to come in or they would get hurt. When the officers opened the door, the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, striking Deputy Schwenz and Officer Nickerson.

The state trooper dragged Officer Nickerson off of the porch and was attempting to revive him when the suspect attacked him. The trooper was able to overpower the suspect and place him under arrest. The suspect was found guilty of two counts of first degree murder on May 24, 2002, and sentenced to death. He was also sentenced to life without parole for the attempted murder of the state trooper. The suspect died in prison on November 17, 2002. Deputy Schwenz had been employed with the agency for 18 months, and is survived by his fiancée, parents, and brother. Source: ODMP.

• February 22nd, 2017 Sheriff's deputies recognized for service
• October 16th, 2001 Law Officers Salute Fallen Comrades
• February 18th, 2001 State bids farewell to a fallen hero; Marylanders gather to honor deputy slain in Queen Anne's
• February 15th, 2001 Law enforcement bonds of blood, duty; Slain police officers are mourned by kindred agencies

Remembering Deputy Sheriff Jason Charles Schwenz

Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Department

End of Watch: Tuesday, February 13th, 2001

Thank you to all of our law enforcement agencies and departments. We are grateful for you each and every day! Stay safe and God bless you all.



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement

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Remembering Trooper First Class William P. Mills, Jr, Maryland State Police | EOW June 8th, 1979

Friday 5/18: "Trooper Mills was shot and killed while investigating a domestic complaint involving two neighbors in Brookview, Maryland. While on the scene he was shot in the chest with a .38 caliber handgun and knocked down. As he attempted to draw his weapon he was shot in the chest with a high powered rifle. The man who shot him also shot and killed the neighbor he had been arguing with. On November 6, 1979, the 68 year-old suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to a mental institution. Trooper Mills had been with the agency for almost nine years." Source: ODMP.

Maryland Law Enforcement | Trooper Milton Veasily Purnell, Jr., Maryland State Police

Tuesday 5/15: Today we remember the sixth Maryland state trooper to pass in the line of duty on the eastern shore of Maryland. Trooper Milton Purnell was killed in an automobile accident on Route 50 near Cambridge when his patrol car struck a utility pole at a service station. He had only been with the agency for 17 months. Source: ODMP.

Remembering Trooper Milton Veasily Purnell, Jr.

Maryland State Police

End of Watch: May 29th, 1975

I was unable to find any other details about Trooper Purnell. However, each time I have attended the fallen officer memorial ride at the Eastern Shore Police Association in Rhodesdale, there is a photograph of him placed at the wall. I hoped to locate some information or perhaps family members but as of today have not been able to learn more about him.

Thank you to all of our law enforcement agencies and departments. We are grateful for you each and every day! Stay safe and God bless you all.



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement

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Eastern Shore of Maryland | Deputy Albert Lee Kelly, Wicomico County Sheriff's Office

Friday 5/11: Today we remember Deputy Albert Lee Kelly, the eighteenth name on the ESPA memorial wall. He was killed along with Sheriff Samuel Graham whom we posted about yesterday, and the two officers are the first of three sets of law enforcement to pass on the same date.

Deputy Kelly and Sheriff Samuel Graham were shot and killed at approximately 2200 hours by an inmate in the county jail. The inmate had obtained a handgun that was smuggled to him in a box of candy. As Deputy Kelly placed inmates into cells the suspect grabbed him and pulled him against the bars. After forcing Deputy Kelly to open the out cell doors the suspect shot and killed him. Sheriff Graham, who lived in an apartment in the jail, was alerted to the escape and came to investigate. As he did so he was also shot and killed by the suspect. The man fled the jail but was apprehended the next morning in Dover, Delaware. The man was sentenced to two life terms in jail. Deputy Kelly had been with the agency for one year. Source: ODMP.

Remembering Deputy Albert Lee Kelly

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office

EOW: December 8th, 1968

Thank you to all of our law enforcement agencies and departments. We are grateful for you each and every day! Stay safe and God bless you all.



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement
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Sheriff Samuel Adams Graham | Wicomico County Sheriff's Office (Maryland)

Thursday 5/10: Today's post acknowledges the the seventeenth law enforcement officer line of duty death on the Delmarva side of Maryland. Remembering Sheriff Samuel Adams Graham of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office. EOW: Sunday, December 8th, 1968.

Sheriff Samuel Graham and Deputy Sheriff Albert Kelly were shot and killed at approximately 2200 hours by an inmate in the county jail. The inmate had obtained a handgun that was smuggled to him in a box of candy. As Deputy Kelly placed inmates into cells the suspect grabbed him and pulled him against the bars. After forcing Deputy Kelly to open the out cell doors the suspect shot and killed him. Sheriff Graham, who lived in an apartment in the jail, was alerted to the escape and came to investigate. As he did so he was also shot and killed by the suspect. The man fled the jail but was apprehended the next morning in Dover, Delaware. The man was sentenced to two life terms in jail. Sheriff Graham had been with the agency for 11 years and was survived by his wife. Source: ODMP.

An article from Dec. 7, 2015: Sheriff's Death in '68 Shocked County

"Before the murders of Sheriff Samuel Adams Graham and Deputy Albert Lee Kelly, no member of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office had ever been killed in the line of duty. And since they were fatally shot at the jail above the county courthouse on Dec. 8, 1968 – 47 years ago Tuesday -- no member of the office has been killed on the job."

Thank you to all of our law enforcement agencies and departments. We are grateful for you each and every day! Stay safe and God bless you all.



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement

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Fallen Officers of Maryland's Eastern Shore: Blue Line Ride to be held Saturday, May 12th 2018

On April 24th we began a project to acknowledge each of the law enforcement officers from the eastern shore of Maryland. As of today we are about halfway through the list of names, having posted one at a time along with their information and a simple memorial image. To honor the fallen, we will be partnering with a local organization for their "Blue Line Ride" this Saturday, May 12th leaving from Willards, MD at noon.

At the ride, hosted by Hogs and Heroes Foundation, Inc. MD-8, the first 35 people to register will receive a card representing each name from the eastern shore, so in this way they will ride in memory of one of the fallen. Part of the idea came from the card you see here, given to the riders of America's 9/11 Ride several years ago. Upon reaching Ground Zero the person carrying this card went to locate Mr. Vialonga's name on the memorial as well to read about him in the museum. We thought this process would provide the the riders at the Blue Line Ride with a personal connection to a name.

We hope you can join the event on Saturday. All are welcome to join in the ride or simply come out to show your support during remarks, remembrance of the fallen and moment of silence.

Thank you to all of our law enforcement agencies and departments. We are grateful for you each and every day! Stay safe and God bless you all.



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement
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Game Warden Charles W. Rider | Maryland Natural Resources Police

Tuesday 5/8: A warden from the previously named Maryland Department of Fish and Game is the fifteenth officer to pass in the line of duty on the eastern shore.

Nov. 7, 1963 District Game Warden Charles W. Rider is on patrol on U.S. 50 in Grasonville, when he swerves to avoid an oncoming vehicle in the wrong lane. Rider, 38, is killed but his quick action saves his partner. Source: MNRP website.

I could find only a brief mention of Warden Rider's name in recent years from an article dated May 2009: "Fallen Heroes Memorial Park rededicated in Queen Anne's County".

Centreville, MD: "The expanded Fallen Heroes Memorial Park was rededicated at a ceremony attended by several dozen people on Thursday. It was first dedicated in June 2003 and has eight stone markers inscribed with the names of men who died in the line of duty including Warden Charles W. Rider, Maryland Department of Fish and Game."

Visit us on Facebook to learn about the heroes we have lost from our Delmarva Peninsula portion of Maryland.



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement

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Maryland's Eastern Shore LODD | Deputy Sheriff Thompson, Talbot County Sheriff's Office

Today as part of our effort to learn about the names on the Eastern Shore Police Association memorial wall, we acknowledge a law enforcement officer from Talbot County, Maryland. Deputy Sheriff Thompson was shot and killed while attempting to recapture five prisoners who had escaped from the Easton Jail. As Deputy Thompson and another deputy walked up to a home, belonging to the brother of three of the escapees, the prisoners opened fire, killing Deputy Thompson instantly. The other deputy ran for help and all five were soon recaptured. Source: ODMP.org

Remembering Deputy Sheriff Thomas J. Thompson

Talbot County Sheriff's Office, Maryland

End of Watch Saturday, March 1, 1902

Visit us on Facebook to learn about the officers lost from our Delmarva Peninsula portion of Maryland.




Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement

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Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Delmarva | January 9th, 2018

Good morning. Yesterday on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day we saw some acts of kindness from local residents who took the time to drop by their local departments and thank the men and women who serve. We love seeing that and feel such efforts are both valuable and important for our community. (see the event page for our area here)

September 7th, 2017 | Update on Thank a Police Officer Day on Delmarva

On July 19th I wrote a note which provided a brief description about a date coming up in September. Although it was a little early to put out all the details I hoped to reach some new folks this year and also make sure that everyone had time to get involved with our efforts, and despite a slow start some of the folks who have been involved for the past year or two voiced their support again for this year. I felt pretty hopeful that we’d find more interested parties along with way but July faded away and August came and went and no one seemed interested. Some of the people I had been connected to backed away from the project, leaving me to wonder if it was reluctance to participate with a public effort and perhaps they preferred to plan their own type of event. Which is great; the hope is just that our officers are recognized and it certainly doesn’t need to be with us or anything of the sort. While the thoughts of perhaps being able to visit every department across the Delmarva Peninsula was probably a bit ambitious, the goal was to at least connect again with each of the 70+ agencies from 2016. And suddenly, it was the day after Labor Day and I began to doubt we’d even make that number.

We Stand With Law Enforcement | Police Departments of the Delmarva Peninsula (part 2)

This is the second post featuring graphics in support of local police departments across the eastern shore of Maryland and state of Delaware. Please feel free to save, share or make these your profile images. Find the complete listing on our Facebook Page album here.

"We Stand With Law Enforcement" (Delmarva) Graphics for local Departments

Show your support and back the local police and sheriff's departments in your area! On our Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement Facebook page you can download the images from our albums - change your profile pictures or share on your wall to express your appreciation for our LEO's.

We Stand With Law Enforcement Main FB album includes most of the available images we have done so far

  

Thank A Police Officer Day 2016 | Treats, Goody Bags and Ideas!

Thank A Police Officer Day is coming up on September 17th, 2016 and once again we will be visiting a number of agencies in our area. Here are some of the ideas we have been discussing in a group as we plan for the goodies and surprises to be delivered to local departments on that day.

Thank A Police Officer Day 2016 | Get Involved, Delmarva!

Attention artists, card-makers, letter-writers!! Art teachers, troop leaders, parents and community organizers.....do you want to hold a card-making and signing event? We are collecting cards to be distributed across Delmarva for Thank a Police Officer Day on September 17th. This is a great group project! Let's make sure that all our officers receive a note on September 17th.

It's that time of year again! Thank A Police Officer Day is September 17th, 2016

Last summer a group of residents set heard about a holiday honoring law enforcement professionals and wanted to get involved locally. "Thank A Police Officer Day" is traditionally observed on the third Saturday in September. Created by the Whole Truth Project, it is a national event and here on Delmarva we wanted to visit and recognize our local agencies on that day.

The initial goal was to cover ten to twenty locations around southern Delaware and Worcester County but as the word got out the community jumped in. Schools, groups and kids made and wrote notes to officers, people set up locations for cards to be dropped off cards and where you could add your comments to jumbo-sized messages of support. It grew as more people asked how they could get involved and by September 19th more than forty separate agencies had been visited by local residents. In addition, wanting to send some love to Baltimore, we had a number of giant cards which were signed all over Delmarva and then delivered to each precinct in Baltimore City.

The love and support for our men and women was amazing and we can't wait to do it again! Take a look at the slideshow from last year ~ https://youtu.be/OpF8I_qkZkA.

"Turn the town Blue" | May 16th in Georgetown, Delaware

On a cool Monday night in May, citizens, local residents and members of law enforcement gathered together on Georgetown's historic Circle. We came out to show that we care; to say thank you to local officers; to make a stand and show that we are here to back our men and women of the police departments.

It was a grassroots kind of thing, meaning I didn't catch anything in the paper about it and other than this signage on the fire department down the street it appeared to be all word of mouth. And yet people came out, wearing sweatshirts and baseball caps that showed they were here for their law enforcement, bringing signs and flags and offering thanks to the officers present.

Did we forget so soon?

Today's interaction, although small, to me seemed to speak volumes. When I thought it over a couple of hours later, I felt it showed that support for our law enforcement still isn't front and center in many places. It surprised me to hear the officer say "we don't see that much around here" - almost as if that way of life has become accepted. I hate that - I hate they are out there doing jobs that many of us couldn't do - and it's become the norm to see so little respect or appreciation?? I'm grateful that he took the time to tell me it mattered - but wish it wasn't so rare for them to notice that people care. I wish we as a society had begun to shift in that new direction that it seemed we leaned towards just a few months ago during Thank a Police Officer Day and again on January 9th. But it didn't last - and it sure seems that we owe them a hell of a lot more respect than what they are seeing....still.

 

Here's the link to the earlier post when someone noticed our sign of support - https://www.facebook.com/DelmarvaSupportsLawEnforcement/photos/a.1214489728576726.1073741827.1214484575243908/1356523507706680/?type=3

January 9th is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

National Law Enforcement Day is Saturday January 9th. For anyone around the Delmarva area there are two events happening locally.

In the morning at the Delaware Law Enforcement memorial in downtown Dover beginning at 11AM there will be a Police Appreciation Rally. Facebook Page Event

"Working together with the DE chapter of C.O.P.S. (concerns of police survivors), we are hosting a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.) Rally. Saturday, January 9th is the second annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. We will again being showing our support for law enforcement at legislative mall, the location of the DE law enforcement memorial. Please join us, wear blue, bring signs or balloons, and let's show everyone that we appreciate everything our officers do for us."

Here is the album from last year's Dover event on Flickr