Remembering Sgt. Charles “Chip” Green, Ocean City Police Department

I take too many pictures at events; when I'm out around town or visiting the boardwalk. That's what people tell me and with hundreds of pending images to sort through at all times, it's not something I can really argue with....until that day I'm searching my files and realize I didn't take nearly enough.

Officer Joseph Comegna

I thought I had a bad day yesterday, and even today, my streak of clumsiness and inability to concentrate effectively continued. "A pretty lousy way to start off the work week", I mumbled to myself, irritated at feeling mired down in work not yet completed. And then I checked my Facebook page, where a message notification was showing, and that is how I learned you were gone.

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

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Chief of Police Ernest Joseph Leatherbury, Sr, Crisfield Police Department

Thursday 5/31: In February 2003, Chief of Police Ernest Joseph Leatherbury, Sr. became the 34th line of duty death on the eastern shore of Maryland. He was the fourth officer lost from the Crisfield Police Department.

Chief Ernest Leatherbury suffered a fatal heart attack at 1730 hours, approximately one hour after helping other officers subdue a suspect in front of the police station. The suspect who had been arrested for assault, refused to go into the station and had to be forced inside by the chief and other officers. Chief Leatherbury collapsed at a meeting approximately one hour after the incident. Chief Leatherbury had been with his agency for six years and had been with the Maryland State Police for 25 years. He is survived by his wife, three sons, five grandchildren, and nine siblings. Source: ODMP.

Remembering Chief of Police

Ernest Joseph Leatherbury, Sr.

Crisfield Police Department

End of Watch: February 21st, 2003

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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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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Eastern Shore of Maryland Fallen Heroes | Trooper Joseph Thomas Lanzi, Maryland State Police

Saturday 5/26: Today we acknowledge the 30th name on the memorial wall in Dorchester County, honoring the fallen officers of Maryland's eastern shore.

Trooper Lanzi was killed in an accident while responding to assist a Cecil County deputy at the scene of a DUI accident in which the suspect was armed with a gun. During the response Trooper Lanzi's patrol car skidded during a down pour and struck a tree. Trooper Lanzi had served with the agency for almost 5 years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and daughter. Source: ODMP.

Trooper First Class Edward Plank, Maryland State Police | EOW: October 17th, 1995

Tuesday 5/22: Today we remember one of Maryland's Finest, the second officer to be killed in the line of duty from the Princess Anne State Police Barrack.

Trooper Edward Plank was shot and killed during a traffic stop near Princess Ann, Maryland, at 1:09 a.m. Unknown to Trooper Plank at the time, the driver and passenger of the car were returning to the state after a drug re-supply. Trooper Plank called for back-up when he became suspicious of the driver and after conferring with another officer approached the vehicle a second time at which point he was shot in the face and killed instantly. The two suspects fled but were caught later in the day. One of the suspects was caught after breaking into a house. The owner of the house clubbed the suspect with an empty rifle after being shot at and held him until police arrived. Four hundred grams of cocaine were found in the suspect's car.

The shooter pled guilty to first degree murder on May 14, 1996, and was sentenced to death. In July 1998 the suspect's death sentenced was overturned and he now is facing life in prison.

Trooper Plank had served with the agency for 7 years. He was survived by his wife, a 7-month-old daughter, and his parents. Source: ODMP.

Fallen Officersof Maryland's Eastern Shore | Deputy Oscar Leaverton, Kent County Sheriff's Office

Monday 5/14: Today is the first LODD on the Maryland side of Delmarva (the 21st name) which unfortunately I found almost nothing about. My goal wasn't ever just to copy and paste information listed on the Officer Down Memorial Page website, however in this case there seem to be no additional details.

Deputy Leaverton died after struggling with suspect in the town of Betterton. As he returned to his patrol vehicle he collapsed. Source: ODMP.

Remembering Deputy Oscar Leaverton

Kent County Sheriff's Office

EOW: Saturday, June 29th, 1974

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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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
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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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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 | 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.

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Sincerely,
Delmarva Supports Law Enforcement
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Maryland's Eastern Shore Fallen Officers: Deputy Game Warden Gordon Barnes

Friday 5/4: Deputy Game Warden Gordon Barnes was the eleventh officer killed in the line of duty on Maryland's eastern shore. He had only served with the department for ten months.

"Deputy Game Warden Gordon Barnes was shot and killed while investigating a hunting complaint near Pocomoke City on the Eastern Shore. While returning from church Warden Barnes noticed a subject acting suspicious and entering a wooded area near his house with a weapon. The warden was dropped off by his wife to investigate further and was found dead one day later. The subject was convicted of Deputy Warden Barne's murder and hanged on December 29th, 1945. He was survived by his wife and infant child." Source: ODMP. Photo via MNRP Facebook page.

Remembering Deputy Game Warden Gordon Barnes

Maryland Natural Resources Police

End of Watch Monday, February 5, 1945

Remembering Officer Joseph E. Kuhn, Maryland State Police | EOW: 4/8/1934

Today we acknowledge the eighth name on the memorial wall located in Rhodesdale, Maryland. This state trooper is the first motorcycle officer to pass in the line of duty on the eastern shore. Officer Kuhn served 1 year and 8 months of service from August 15, 1932 to April 8, 1934. His motorcycle crashed into the rear of a wagon without regulation rear lights, and it is believed that he was blinded by the bright headlights of an oncoming vehicle. Kuhn's sidecar hit a wheel of the wagon and he was thrown from the motorcycle onto the concrete roadway near Mardela Springs outside of Salisbury. Source: MSP Facebook page

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

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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.

"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