Lewes group gathers to talk hate crimes

Delaware’s Attorney General says the state’s hate laws are some of the strongest in the country, but the crimes are some of the least reported.

“These are some of the most underreported crimes we have,” said Attorney General Kathleen Jennings during a Jan. 11 forum in Lewes sponsored by the Speak Out Against Hate Association. 

Jennings and Georgetown Police Chief Ralph Holm Jr. were part of a panel that spoke to a group of roughly 50 people about hate crimes in the area.

Holm said he reviewed Georgetown crime data, and was not sure if there were any hate crimes reported in 2023, but he found two hate crime incidents related to robberies of Hispanics. Delaware State Police recently reported a hate crime involving a 21-year-old Laurel woman upset about a food order at a Hispanic restaurant, who hurled racial insults and threatened to blow up the restaurant. Another hate crime incident occurred over the summer involving teenagers in Laurel.

Holm said Georgetown officers investigate all crimes reported to them.

“When it comes to hate crimes specifically, first and foremost, you are a victim of crime. Period. And then the hate part is an added factor to that, the motivational piece as you will, that that person specifically targeted you for a reason,” he said. “But the fact that you’re a victim first doesn’t change how we do what we’re supposed to do as far as investigations.”

Investigating hate crimes in Georgetown with its large Hispanic population can be difficult because many people come from countries where there is little or no trust in police, he said.

To remedy the distrust, Holm said his department has reached out to the community through open houses and other outreach.

“For Georgetown, we’re not changing anything specific to hate. If you’re a victim, you’re a victim, and we’re going to do our best job for you, and I truly believe my counterparts in the chiefs of police in Sussex County and the state fall in line with that mentality,” Holm said.

It has to be immediate reporting, though, he said.

Over the past two years, Jennings said hate crimes have been on the rise throughout the country and Delaware.

“These are one of the most underreported crimes we have. We encourage everyone to report to us,” she said. 

Jennings said hate crimes can be reported to police departments or directly to the Attorney General’s Office.