CAMDEN – A funeral service will be held on Wednesday for a Camden firefighter who died during a fire boat maintenance operation at a marina on the Delaware River last week.

Firefighter Howard Bennett, 60, will be remembered during a Celebration of Life service held at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The backstory:

Bennett, a Maple Shade resident, fell into the icy Delaware River while inspecting a fire boat at Wiggins Park Marina last Thursday. 

Bennett, who spent nearly 30 years with the Camden Fire Department, was pulled from the water after about 30 minutes.

He was rushed to Cooper University Hospital in Camden where he was pronounced dead.

What they’re saying:

Bennett is remembered as a husband and father, who was “a steady presence whose love and care made life feel safer just by being there.”

“Everybody loved him,” said Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen. “Twenty-seven years, someone touches individual lives, and you get to know the fire department — they’re family with each other — and this one’s going to be a hard one to swallow.”

Mayor Carstarphen has ordered all flags at Camden municipal buildings to fly at half-staff to honor Bennett’s service to the community. 

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Three Delaware County police officers are under investigation by the county’s Criminal Investigation Division, sources confirmed to Action News on Tuesday.

We’re told the search warrants were executed at three homes on Friday morning.

Two of the officers work for the Sharon Hill Police Department and were placed on paid administrative leave.

The third officer is with Darby Township, but their status is not yet known.

We’re working to learn why the officers are being investigated.

Rodney Hill, the vice president of the borough’s council, commented on the case Tuesday night.

“The main concern is making sure this investigation is thoroughly looked into so the residents of Sharon Hill can have some peace of mind,” said Hill.

“I want to make sure there is total transparency on what’s happening in our borough with the police force that protects our borough. I’m just making sure the public safety is superb,” said Hill.

We don’t know what evidence was collected during the search of the homes, but multiple sources say the investigation is related to drugs.

The Delaware County District Attorney’s office says, “Our office will not comment on ongoing investigations.”

Delaware State Police have identified the woman killed in a two-vehicle crash near Townsend late on Feb. 8 as 69-year-old Laura Thomas.

Thomas, of the Magnolia area, was a front-seat passenger of a Toyota Sienna that was on northbound Dupont Parkway, getting ready to turn left onto Summit Bridge Road about 11:40 p.m., police said.

Initial story: 69-year-old woman dies in two-vehicle crash near Townsend, police say

For reasons under investigation, police said the Toyota turned left and into the path of a Nissan Altima that was southbound on Dupont Parkway. The Nissan collided with the Toyota.

Thomas was taken to a local hospital, where police said she was declared dead.

The Toyota driver, a 43-year-old Dover woman, and her three other passengers were taken to area hospitals where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Nissan driver, a 50-year-old Townsend man, was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.

Police continue to ask anyone who witnessed the crash to contact investigators by calling (302) 365-8484, sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.