National Law Enforcement: "Respect, Honor, Courage"

A new year is upon us and once again, January 9th marks the annual observance of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.

Today We Honor The Courageous Men and Women in Blue

As the sun rises this morning on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2021, let us reflect upon and acknowledge the many challenges our officers face.

Thank A Police Officer Day on Delmarva | September 21st, 2019

The 8th Annual "Thank A Police Officer Day" will be taking place on Saturday, September 21st, 2019. Launched in 2012 by the Whole Truth Project, this date is observed nationally on the third Saturday in September, and each year communities across the Delmarva Peninsula, local residents, businesses and civic organizations come together to thank local law enforcement.

We invite you to join us in acknowledging our law enforcement professionals by adopting a department, hosting an event or providing lunch or dinner to an agency that day. Our goal since 2015 when we began this local project was to show appreciation for the men and women who serve and protect our neighborhoods, towns and cities. See the event on Facebook here!

This event has only been possible through the help and generosity of so many local residents - it is truly a community effort which takes caring people from all over Delmarva. For additional information on ways to participate, ideas and albums from previous years, please see our Facebook page. For questions or to sign up to sponsor a department for September 21st send us a message. Thank you for helping us to say THANK YOU as "Delmarva Goes Blue" in September!






DSLEO was created for law enforcement of the Delmarva Peninsula (Delaware and the eastern shore areas of Maryland and Virginia), along with advocating respect for all officers.



• Instagram
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Facebook

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day 2019 is January 9th

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.) takes place each year on January 9th. Created by Concerns of Police Survivors, a number of events are held each year across the country recognizing the dedication and sacrifices our officers make.

Thank A Police Officer Day is September 15th, 2018

Hi everyone. Below is our annual announcement regarding the community-powered event which takes place each September, Thank a Police Officer Day on Delmarva. Several years ago we started out hoping to visit and acknowledge some of our local departments and were joined by an outpouring of support from area residents and good people. This year's date is Saturday, September 15th and you can sign up to a part of an amazing volunteer event!

What:
Thank A Police Officer Day is a national observance, created by the Whole Truth Project in 2012, and observed each year on the third Saturday of September. 


When:
The official date is Saturday, September 15th. With the help of Team Captains who contact their agencies ahead of time to coordinate deliveries, etc, many of the visits will actually take place on the day before (Friday the 14th) as some facilities do not have a full staff on weekends.


Where:
There are a total of 14 counties (9 on Maryland's eastern shore, 3 in Delaware and 2 on the eastern shore of Virginia). As long as there are people excited and willing to sign up for a particular location we can add that agency to our list.


What is a Team Captain?
This is a key person who organizes planning for their specific department, coordinates the delivery of cards, lunch, treats and visit. It can be one person (or several) who are in charge of making /displaying a giant card around their neighborhood for residents to sign, calling ahead to set up a time to come to the department, contacting local restaurants for a meal, etc. We have been so fortunate to have wonderful Team Captains who worked together to make sure each location in their area was visited, that each officer had a card to open, and that they enjoyed homemade goodies or treats delivered from local businesses.

We would never have imagined that so many officers could have their day made a little brighter but seeing the smiles when kids visit, or when a group comes in to sing for an agency, or deliver pizza is an amazing thing.

Are you interested in becoming a Team Captain?
We are looking for people to sign up and adopt a department! At this time we ask that each person chooses just one agency to ensure that we can have lots of participants and the opportunity for many folks to participate (we may definitely have more locations available later on).


I don't want to be a Team Captain so can I still be involved?
Absolutely! You can help us organize card-writing events or get your office or school together to sign a scroll with messages of support. You can contribute snacks or treats to your neighborhood PD and coordinate with the Team Captain for that area. This is a big project and the help of everyone is gratefully accepted!

How do we get all these cards?
School classes, neighborhood groups, local organizations and friends and family are the ones who help create messages of support. We’ve seen cards of all kinds and varieties, from Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to Sunday School classes and retirement homes! You can get started anytime and we’ll announce drop off locations for the cards soon. The drop off locations allow cards to be collected and distributed across our entire area (since some counties have a higher number of folks who know about this and participate). NOTE: If you are organizing a group letter or card-writing campaign, please address them to a “Delmarva Law Enforcement Officer”.

What else is involved?
Show your support for our law enforcement. You can choose to fly a blue line flag at your house, change the porch light to a blue bulb or tie ribbons around the trees in your yard. You could quietly pick up the bill for an officer’s lunch or cup of coffee, place a thin blue line on your vehicle and let our LEO’s know that we stand with them!


Can you do your own thing?
Of course! If you wish to do something different for your local agency please go right ahead and celebrate their service in your own way. We do however suggest that you ALWAYS contact a department ahead of time to ask what suits them as far as a time to visit, which types of food items can be accepted, etc. Please keep in mind that not all departments will accept homemade items for safety reasons! Sad but understandable so please call ahead to find out that info in advance.


Visit our Facebook page for more details and contact us through the page if you would like to be a part of this effort. Thank you for your interest in this project and for helping to acknowledge the men and women who serve and protect us all each day.





Our cause was established to acknowledge local departments and agencies across the fourteen counties which make up the Delmarva Peninsula, as well as working to promote an attitude of respect.



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement

Instagram
Pinterest
Facebook

Remembering Trooper Mark P. Groner, Maryland State Police | EOW: October 1st, 1992

Monday 5/21: State police officer Mark P. Groner became the 28th officer to pass in the line of duty on the eastern shore of Maryland. He was 24 years of age at the time of his death.

Trooper Groner was killed in an accident at Routes 392 and 313 near Hurlock while responding to a call. His vehicle was struck by a vehicle, spun around, and struck by a third oncoming vehicle. Trooper Groner had been with the agency for almost five years. Source: ODMP.

Remembering Trooper First Class Phillip Lee Russ, Maryland State Police

Sunday 5/13: Acknowledging the twentieth line of duty death on Delmarva's eastern shore, a state trooper who died in a helicopter crash along with another of Maryland's Finest.

Trooper Philip Russ and Trooper Thomas Noyle were killed when their Bell Jet Ranger helicopter crashed while they were conducting a med-evac to the Maryland Trauma Center. The aircraft encountered heavy fog and crashed near Bennett's Paint Road in Queenstown when the pilot attempted to land. Trooper Russ had been employed with the Maryland State Police for almost four years. Source: ODMP.

Remembering Trooper First Class Phillip Lee Russ

Maryland State Police

EOW: October 28th, 1972

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



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest

Maryland's Eastern Shore | Officer Daniel C. Bier, Cambridge Police Department

Saturday 5/5: Today we acknowledge the 12th name on the memorial wall in Rhodesdale, Maryland.

Officer Daniel Bier was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance call at 4:30 pm. He was shot in the chest with a .45 caliber handgun as he entered the home. The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended by members of the Maryland State Police. The suspect was initially convicted of first degree murder, however, was convicted of a lesser charge of a second degree murder during a second trial. He was released after serving only 5 years. Officer Bier had served with the agency for 7 years. He was survived by his wife, sister, and two brothers.

Remembering Officer Daniel C. Bier

Cambridge Police Department, MD

EOW: Sunday, May 3rd, 1953

Noted on May 7th, 2015 via the Cambridge Police Department Facebook page: FOP Lodge #27 honors Officer Bier, end of watch May 3, 1953.

Follow our page on Facebook to learn about all of the fallen officers from the eastern shore counties of Maryland.



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement
We're also on Instagram and Pinterest

Quartermaster Sergeant Wilbert V. Hunter, Maryland State Police | EOW: 2/7/36

Thursday 5/3: Today we acknowledge an officer from the Maryland State Police who is the tenth name on the Eastern Shore Memorial wall. An article giving some perspective on the conditions during the winter of 1936 is also included below.

Hunter, Wilbert V. - Quartermaster Sergeant, 30 years old; 7 years and 11 months of service from March 8th, 1928 to February 2nd, 1936. "Quartermaster Sergeant Hunter was part of an expedition attempting to take 2,000 pounds of food stuffs to Smith Island across Tangier Sound from Crisfield, Maryland, during a blizzard on the bay. Sgt. Hunter succumbed to the cold after falling through ice. Sgt. Hunter's commitment and dedication to serving the citizens of Maryland will never be forgotten. He will always be one of Maryland's Finest". Source: MSP Facebook Page.

Remembering Quartermaster

Sergeant Wilbert V. Hunter

Maryland State Police

EOW: Friday, February 7, 1936

Chief of Police James Washington Kirwin | Crisfield Police Department | EOW: 4/18/1930

The seventh Maryland law enforcement officer to pass in the line of duty is from the Crisfield Police Department. 

"Chief James Kirwin succumbed to wounds sustained 6 years earlier when he was struck in the head with a hatchet while attempting to make an arrest. Chief Kirwin and other officers had gone to a barn after being notified that a man inside had slashed another man with the hatchet.

When Chief Kirwin arrived at the barn he was struck in the head. The suspect then struck the other officer in the arm. The officer shot the suspect once, but did not immediately stop him. When the suspect lunged at the officer again, he emptied his revolver at the man, killing him. Chief Kirwin was survived by his wife". Source: ODMP

Chief of Police James Washington Kirwin

Crisfield Police Department

End of Watch Friday, April 18th, 1930

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



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement

Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest

Deputy Sheriff Lewis L. Dryden | Somerset County Sheriff's Office

Sunday, April 29, 2018: The sixth officer we acknowledge today was from Somerset County, Maryland.

"Deputy Lewis Dryden was shot and killed as he and a Princess Anne police officer attempted to serve an arrest on a man who had shot his stepfather. The officers encountered the suspect walking down the street, carrying the shotgun he had used in the previous shooting. As they attempted to take him into custody the man was able to obtain control of Deputy Dryden's pistol and fatally shot him. He then shot and wounded the Princess Anne police officer before fleeing. The suspect was arrested several days later. He was convicted of Deputy Dryden's murder and sentenced to life in prison. Deputy Dryden was survived by his wife." Source: ODMP.org

Cecil County Sheriff's Office | Remembering Sheriff J. Myron Miller

Today we honor the fifth fallen officer from the eastern shore of Maryland. Sheriff J. Myron Miller of the Cecil County Sheriff's Office was shot and killed by a man who had been given shelter at the County Jail in Elkton for three years. Sheriff Miller had asked the man to lay sawdust down in the jail's stables and the man refused unless he was to be paid. The Sheriff then, acting on information he had previously received, asked the man for a weapon he owned. The man put the weapon against Sheriff Miller's right side and shot him. Sheriff Miller was able to walk to his office where he collapsed and died. The suspect was taken into custody by two nearby workers. Sheriff Miller was survived by his wife, who witnessed the incident. ODMP.org

Remembering Sheriff J. Myron Miller

Cecil County Sheriff's Office

EOW: Saturday, March 30, 1912

Crisfield, MD Police Department | Remembering Night Chief John H. "Jack Hen" Daugherty

The fourth officer to be killed in the line of duty on the Maryland side of Delmarva was from Somerset County. While searching for information I came across this article on the Delmarva History website, dated 2009: "Three Fallen Crisfield Police Officers Added to Memorial". It was during Police Week in May that the names from the Crisfield Police Department were added to the memorial wall in Rhodesdale, MD, with Chief Daugherty's being the first.

Captain Joshua Bromwell, Maryland Board of Public Works | EOW: 9/17/1893

Today we remember a fallen hero from the eastern shore of Maryland who was the second law enforcement officer to pass in the line of duty. Captain Joshua Bromwell is listed on the Officer Down Memorial Page here but with limited information. It is worth noting that his agency, the Maryland Board of Public Works, State Fishery Force, has since been absorbed by the Maryland Natural Resources Police of Maryland.

Remembering Captain Joshua Bromwell

Maryland Board of Public Works, State Fishery Force

EOW: Sunday, September 17, 1893

About the State Fishery Force: "By 1868, the State Oyster Police Force was created to enforce oyster laws. The Governor, Treasurer, Comptroller, Superintendent of Labor and Agriculture, and Clerk of the Court of Appeals were constituted the Commissioners of the State Oyster Police to oversee the Force. Reorganized as the State Fishery Force in 1874, it was placed under the Commissioner of Fisheries and, in 1880, under the Board of Public Works. The Force constituted the "Maryland Navy" in the Bay oyster wars fought between Maryland and Virginia watermen at the end of the century. By 1886, the State Fishery Force also was assigned conservation duties, buying oyster shells to be planted or sown in the Bay "for the purpose of catching spat and experimenting in the propagation of oysters" (Chapter 314, Acts of 1886). In 1892, county commissioners were authorized "in their discretion" to supplement the Force with boats and officers at county expense (Chapter 643, Acts of 1892)." Source: MD State Archives

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



Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement

Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest

Eastern Shore of Maryland LODD: Deputy William Outten, Worcester County Sheriff's Office

Today is the first post honoring the fallen officers of Maryland's eastern shore. We will be sharing one of the names each day for the next 35 days to acknowledge those lost in the line of duty from the nine counties which make up our area of Delmarva. This is the first name inscribed on the memorial wall in Rhodesdale, MD however due to the date it is not listed on the ODMP.org website.

Remembering Deputy William Outten

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

EOW: February 6th, 1759

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.

Press Release for Thank a Police Officer Day, September 16th

Saturday, September 16th is "Thank A Police Officer Day". This is a national event created in 2012 by the Whole Truth Project, and here on Delmarva we are working with local residents to "adopt" and recognize area agencies and LEO's. Operating behind the scenes is a planning group with over 200 volunteers, who for the third year are reaching out across the Peninsula to acknowledge more than 70 area police departments.

"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

  

Follow-up to "Thank A Police Officer Day on Delmarva" - A Community Project

Update from last weekend ~ I'm still collecting pictures and names and looking for photos but wanted to post and acknowledge some of the many people who were involved in Saturday's Thank a Police Officer Day on Delmarva.

The last few days leading up to September 17th were pretty awesome to see. The generosity of so many people, local businesses and organizations was incredible and it seemed as if as folks find out how to get involved, the more people join in. It was, from beginning to end, a true community effort.