Delaware
Delaware State Police Announces 2025 Trooper and Professional Staff of the Year – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
Date Posted: Saturday, April 25th, 2026
The Delaware State Police announced the recipients of the 2025 Trooper of the Year and Professional Staff of the Year Awards during a ceremony on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. To highlight the importance of the event, notable attendees included Governor Matt Meyer, Chief Deputy Attorney General Dan Logan, Department of Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Joshua Bushweller, Colonel William D. Crotty, and Sergeant Shawn Doherty, President of the Delaware State Troopers Association, who all offered congratulatory remarks.
Trooper of the Year
The Delaware State Police Trooper of the Year is awarded annually to one sworn employee who is recognized by their peers as having outstanding character and integrity and whose actions or performance significantly exceeded expectations during that calendar year.
From the twelve nominees, Colonel Crotty and the Executive Staff selected Corporal Robert Prettyman as the 2025 Trooper of the Year for his exceptional efforts and contributions to the Division and the citizens of the State of Delaware.
Trooper of the Year Nominees
Trooper First Class Colin Osler – Troop 1
Detective Justin Adams – Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit
Trooper First Class Jonathan Lado – Troop 2 Patrol
Detective Brandon Yencer – Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit
Trooper First Class Jacob Pangle – Troop 3 Patrol
Detective Heidi Lingo – Troop 4 Criminal Investigations Unit
Trooper First Class Brian Nieto – Troop 4 Patrol
Corporal Robert Prettyman – Troop 5
Corporal/1 Matthew “Ty” Snook – Troop 6
Corporal/1 Ryan Nowakowski – Troop 7
Corporal Emanuel Velez – Troop 9
Detective Michael Macauley – Headquarters
Professional Staff of the Year
The Delaware State Police Professional Staff of the Year is awarded annually to one employee whose service with the Delaware State Police has been outstanding throughout the course of that calendar year.
From the eleven nominees, Colonel Crotty and the Executive Staff selected Revered Jeffrey A. Miller, Sr. as the 2025 Professional Staff of the Year. Reverend Miller is assigned to Troop 2 and also serves as a Chaplain for the division.
Professional Staff of the Year Nominees
Ms. Mayra Cruz-Chavez – Victim Services
Ms. Ashleigh Haines – State Bureau of Identification
Ms. Sonia Jonas – Troop 3
Mr. Barry Laise – KENTCOM
Ms. Kerry-Gene Lussier – Information Technology
Reverend Jeffrey A. Miller, Sr. – Troop 2
Ms. Heather Neeld – RECOM
Ms. Donna Newth-Showell – Troop 6
Mr. Schyler Outten – SUSCOM
Ms. Nicole Sund – Delaware Information Analysis Center
Mr. Robert Zurlo – Troop 5 Transportation
Additionally, Troopers, Professional Staff, and non-divisional members received several awards for Life Saving, Exceptional Performance, the Superintendent’s Citation, and Valor.
Congratulations to all award nominees and the recipients. Please enjoy the award ceremony highlight video below.
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Delaware
All lanes open after I-69 closure in Delaware County
DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind. — All lanes closed on I-69 in the southbound direction in Delaware County on Friday morning.
Authorities with the Indiana State Police were dispatched to the 240.5 mile marker on a report of a crash involving a semi at approximately 8:08 a.m.
All lanes are now open.
Delaware
After devastating fire at historic Delaware church, a summer festival carries on
Delaware
From blueprint to breakthrough: Tackling affordable housing in Wilmington
Pennrose and JPMorganChase help neighborhoods – and residents – thrive.
Finding an affordable place to live continues to be a challenge for many as widespread housing shortages persist across the U.S. Rising home prices and high interest rates have made homeownership inaccessible for a large portion of the population. Meanwhile, as rental demand increases, the number of renters facing affordability challenges is also on the rise.
The State of the Nation’s Housing 2025 by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies reveals that cost burdens for renters reached another record high in 2023. Similarly, the JPMorganChase Institute reports that renter affordability is declining and forcing people to devote more of their take-home pay to housing costs. There is a growing need for affordable housing across the U.S., and that rings true here in Wilmington.
To close that gap, it’s essential that all Wilmington residents share in its growth with housing options that accommodate a range of needs and budgets. For the Pennrose real estate firm, this meant delivering a concrete solution to the local community, resulting in housing for individuals and families who otherwise might not have been able to live in the area.
Reinvesting in Wilmington’s Riverside
In Wilmington, the Riverside redevelopment initiative is focused on neighborhood stability at a scale that can be felt across generations – bringing housing, education and community resources together so families can remain rooted and move forward. Imani Village, developed by Pennrose in partnership with the Wilmington Housing Authority and nonprofit community organization REACH Riverside and constructed with support from JPMorganChase, is part of this broader effort, which is expected to create more than 600 high-quality, mixed-income homes while also enhancing and expanding EastSide Charter School and Kingswood Community Center to help establish a “cradle to college/career readiness education pipeline.”
By tying new housing to strengthened local institutions, the redevelopment aims to reduce the pressure that forces families to relocate and instead keep children closer to school, neighbors closer to one another and residents connected to the services that help them thrive. In practical terms, Imani Village represents not just additional homes, but a commitment to building a neighborhood where opportunity is easier to access and easier to keep.
“We’re proud of the far-reaching impact this project will have. It reflects Pennrose’s mission to uplift our communities and expand the supply of high-quality, affordable homes,” said Brett Macleod, Community Development Banking, J.P. Morgan. “Every additional housing unit matters – and increasing the number that are affordable is critical.”
A broader commitment to Wilmington’s future
While Imani Village is foundational, the vibrancy of a community depends on much more. In Delaware, the firm provides banking services to 215,000 customers and works across sectors to expand economic opportunity. Over the last five years, JPMorganChase has invested more than $25 million in local nonprofit organizations, supported 25,000 small business clients and delivered financial health education to thousands of residents to broaden access to banking, financial health resources, homeownership and other wealth-building tools.
“As we work with local stakeholders to expand housing options, JPMorganChase’s goal is to create inclusive economic opportunity for all,” said Don Mell, Location Management, Americas East Region Lead and member of the Delaware & Philadelphia Market Leadership Team at JPMorganChase. “When our communities thrive, we all thrive.”
Learn more about affordable housing and community development at jpmorgan.com/commercial-real-estate.
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