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‘Very obscene’: Vandal spray-paints ‘pig’ on memorial sign for slain Delaware cop

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‘Very obscene’: Vandal spray-paints ‘pig’ on memorial sign for slain Delaware cop


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For the last 13 years, a simple metal sign on a telephone pole has marked the spot where a Delaware police officer was stabbed to death.

That sign, on a residential street in the Penn Acres neighborhood near New Castle, reads, “Never Forgotten. Always Remembered” in honor of New Castle County Police Lt. Joseph Sczerba. The plaque says Szczerba “gave his life to protect” residents of Delaware’s largest county.

Down the block, a county park is named for Sczerba, who was 44 when a man using “bath salts” drugs took his life. Szczerba had responded with other officers to a late-night report of a man who had broken into cars and stabbed one victim. He chased the suspect and caught him, but was killed while trying to take him into custody.

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Over Labor Day weekend, someone defaced the sign with words that a police spokesman calls “very obscene.” With maroon spray paint, the vandal wrote “PIG” and “ASS” and crossed out the words on the sign with a large X.

Spray-painted derogatory words over the plaque dedicated to the late Lt. Joseph Szczerba. (New Castle County Police)

Someone saw the vandalism and contacted police Monday. Detectives are investigating and trying to determine a motive.

While the crime appears to be misdemeanor criminal mischief, a relatively minor offense, the vandal’s act has infuriated police, especially since it occurred a couple of weeks before the 13th anniversary of Szczerba’s killing. His killer is serving a life sentence.

“It’s very unsettling,’’ said Sr. Cpl. Richard Chambers, the county police spokesman, singling out the words the vandal used.

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“Not only are you doing something against us, but you’re also disparaging his family, as well. It’s very inappropriate what happened and very obscene, is what it was.”



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Delaware

Power outage number tops 13,000 in Delaware County as storm hits

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Power outage number tops 13,000 in Delaware County as storm hits


Storms hit Saturday shortly before 3 p.m. in Delaware County with limbs down on lines, wires down, plus lightning strikes, and quickly nearly 8,000 PECO customers were without power.

There was an accompanying deluge as well in parts of the county, with many low-lying areas flooding. The power outage number continued rising to 10,365 by 3:10 p.m., and to over 13,000 by 3:30. By 4 p.m. that number began to decline.

The first lightning strike dispatch was to a house in the 100 block of Edgewood Avenue in Haverford Township, and crews were dispatched minutes later to the Five Guys on Town Centre Drive in Concord Township.

Crews arriving on both scenes reported nothing was evident, but they would investigate further, according to radio traffic.

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Fire stations were also sent to a water rescue in the 2800 block of East County Line Road in Haverford. Police arrived first and reported that half the vehicle was underwater. The officer soon located the driver, who had gotten out and made it to safety, according to radio traffic.

Police, fire and ambulance dispatches continued rapid fire at 3:30 p.m. PECO was asked to respond to numerous locations. Numerous alarm calls were also received at the county communications center.

A National Weather Service-issued severe thunderstorm warning was in effect for eastern Delaware County until 3:30 p.m. There was also a flash flood warning for the same area until 6:45 p.m.

One rainfall measurement was available at 3 p.m. That was St. Davids, where 0.71 inch of rain was recorded in less than 45 minutes, eventual reaching eight-tenths of an inch.

The Philadelphia International Airport recorded 0.32 inch of rain.

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Sunny skies were expected to dominate the weather for the workweek, with high temperatures rising into the 90s on Wednesday and likely to stay there at least through Friday.



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Delaware

New information on “sophisticated cybercriminal attack” against Delaware County

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New information on “sophisticated cybercriminal attack” against Delaware County


Saturday, July 11, 2026 1:40PM

New information on "sophisticated cybercriminal attack" against Delaware County

MEDIA, Pa. (WPVI) — There is new information about what is being called a “sophisticated cybercriminal attack” against Delaware County.

According to officials, hackers were able to gain limited access to the county’s network and some of the data stored on it.

They are working with cybersecurity experts to learn the extent.

The sheriff’s office, district attorney, libraries and county council have all been dealing with disruptions since the attack on June 26.

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The county’s internal networks are now up and running, and work is still ongoing to reinstate external-facing county services.

Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Investigation underway after controversial traffic stop in Delaware

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Investigation underway after controversial traffic stop in Delaware


DOVER, Del. (WPVI) — Delaware State Police are investigating a controversial traffic stop making the rounds on social media.

The video shows a trooper forcing a woman out of her car, slamming her to the ground, punching and tasing her.

It happened on July 7, in Dover, Delaware.

But Delaware State Police say the video doesn’t tell the whole story. They released a statement to provide what they call necessary context and clarity.

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State police say the woman, identified as 38-year-old Sierra Hopkins, was initially pulled over in the area of S. Bay Road and Lafferty Lane in Dover for having suspended tags, no car insurance, and no driver’s license.

She was issued citations and let go, but then stopped again minutes later by the same trooper on E. Lebanon Road, who decided to follow protocol and have her car towed.

State police say he did this because Hopkins had been cited for the same violations five days earlier.

Things quickly escalated during this stop, with police stating she refused to leave her car, resisting, kicking and scratching the trooper in the face.

It all happened while several juveniles were in the car.

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“This is such a vulnerable and tender moment… I’m sure her children were present, which brings another cause of concern because that’s trauma,” said Fleur McKendell, President of Delaware NAACP State Conference.

McKendell says her organization is pushing for a full and thorough investigation.

“It’s really deeply concerning. It’s evoked a lot of strong emotions from myself, my organization, as well as the public. I think it’s important to understand the full context of the content we have viewed before reaching conclusions, so I’m very eager to review available video footage and the circumstances that preceded and occurred during that incident,” says McKendell.

Delaware Governor Matt Meyer is also weighing in on this confrontation.

He released the following statement to Action News:

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“Every law-enforcement officer is entrusted with a duty to protect, to serve, and to uphold the dignity and rights of every person, in every community. Policing relies on trust. That trust is not automatic; it is earned every day through mutual respect, integrity and transparency. The people of Delaware deserve transparency, and this administration will not turn away from that responsibility.”

Hopkins was later charged with assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest; driving without a license, endangering the welfare of children and other registration violations.

State police did not mention the current status of the trooper.

Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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