Delaware
Community enraged amid investigation into Delaware County police chief candidate
COLLINGDALE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Residents in Collingdale, Delaware County, expressed their outrage on Tuesday night over local leaders trying to make a controversial hire for the town’s police chief.
“How dare you even contemplate putting someone under investigation as our chief of police when we had a damn good chief of police,” one resident said during an intense meeting.
Back in June, despite opposition from residents and some Collingdale officers, the city council voted 5-2 to remove former police chief Patrick Kilroy.
Council members in Collingdale, Delaware County have voted to remove the borough’s police chief.
On Tuesday, the council was set to finalize the employment of a new chief, Raheem Blanden.
The Delaware County Police Union says Blanden is on leave from his job as a Chester police officer and is under investigation for alleged misconduct on the force.
“He’s under criminal investigation because he allegedly tipped off a homicide suspect that the SWAT team was on their way to the house to apprehend him,” explained Christopher Eiserman, president of the FOP Delaware County Lodge 27.
Action News spoke with Blanden as he was leaving the town meeting Tuesday night.
“I don’t know anything about a criminal investigation with the Criminal Investigation Division,” he said.
Blanden also confirmed he had interviewed for the police chief job in Collingdale. He says he’s ready to take it, despite the backlash from community members.
“I think they are making me the focal point, but this is about the council members,” he said.
As Blanden went back into the building, there were tense moments between him and other officers.
The night was defined by these uneasy moments. One instance was when the council president denied union representatives the opportunity to speak during a time for public comments.
The meeting ultimately led to a recess and then an abrupt cancellation.
Action News tried to speak with the council president about why he believes Blanden is the right person for the job.
“No comment,” replied Ryan Hastings, the Collingdale Borough council president.
The mayor of Collingdale expressed her opposition to the proposed hire.
“There is no way we should ever, ever think about hiring someone who is under investigation,” said Mayor Donna Matteo-Spadea.
Authorities have not provided any further information on Blanden’s alleged misconduct, but the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office did confirm he was under investigation.
There is also no word yet from Collingdale leaders on what will happen next in the hiring process for a police chief. The next meeting to address the issue is set to be held sometime in October.
Local authorities did emphasize in a statement made Tuesday afternoon that the hiring of a police chief is a public matter.
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Delaware
Proposed bill aims to expand wetlands protections across Delaware
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Delaware
Check out these softball photos from Delaware Online High School Media Day
Delaware high school players share their celebrations, dugout chatter
High school players share their celebrations and dugout chatter during DelawareOnline’s Baseball, Softball Media Day.
They don’t call them celebrations anymore.
Delaware’s high school athletes have shortened that word to “celly.”
It’s what you do to pump up your team, recognize a teammate for a big play or maybe throw off an opponent.
We recently asked players to share some of their best cellies at Delaware Online High School Baseball and Softball Media Day at Frawley Stadium, and they had some good ones.
“A big celly I like to do is I like to do a little motion to my parents in the outfield when they’re watching,” said Madison Evans of Archmere softball. “In the dugout, I like to be as loud as possible for every teammate I can, no matter who’s up to bat.”
Milford softball lets the dogs out.
“We all just bark,” the Buccaneers’ Madison Webb said. “… A loud dog. A very loud and annoying dog.”
With the Masters right around the corner, Dover catcher Ryan Perkins often borrows a motion from one of his other favorite sports to celebrate.
“I’m a big golf guy, so I hit a little pitching wedge into the green,” he said.
Then there is the Cape Henlopen softball team, which does something appropriate for a school located a mile from the Atlantic Ocean.
“We do like a little scuba thing if we hit a double,” Alivia Longo said. “We also like to eat candy in the dugout sometimes, so we’ll just say, ‘Hey, where’s the candy at?”
We also took a lot of photos at media day – hundreds and hundreds of photos of players and coaches from 54 teams around the state. Take a look through the first batch – these are focused on softball – and come back to Delaware Online over the next few days as we release more.
Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists served as the presenting sponsor of the event.
ShopRite provided a free lunch for all in attendance, and Birdie’s Links and Drinks also sponsored the media day.
Special thanks to Andrew Layman of the Riverfront Development Corporation, who allows Delaware’s top high school players to enjoy the state’s only professional baseball stadium.
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on X: @BradMyersTNJ. Follow us on Instagram: @DEGameDay
Delaware
ChristianaCare and CHOP pediatric health partnership launches April 1
ChristianaCare patients will have access to CHOP’s specialty programs including surgery, cardiology, neurology, radiology, ophthalmology and genetics, officials said.
The health systems also intend to collaborate on research and educational initiatives.
Dr. Janice Nevin, president and CEO of ChristianaCare, called it a “defining moment” for pediatric care in Delaware.
“Through our affiliation with CHOP, we are combining strength with strength to deliver world class pediatric subspecialty care right here in our community,” Nevin said in a statement. “This partnership is an important step forward to ensure that every child and every family have access to the exceptional care they deserve — when and where they need it.”
ChristianaCare operates three hospitals and outpatient health offices for adults and children in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. CHOP’s network includes its flagship hospital in Philadelphia, another inpatient hospital in King of Prussia, as well as primary care offices and clinics across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
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