Lewes police honored for accreditation
The Lewes Police Department has been formally honored for becoming Delaware’s first department to become accredited by the newly formed Police Standards and Training Commission.
Nathaniel McQueen, secretary Department of Safety and Homeland Security, joined members of POST and the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission to present a certificate of accreditation at the Aug. 12 mayor and city council meeting.
“The state accreditation process raises the standard for all law enforcement agencies, sets the mark for excellence and ensures consistency amongst police departments statewide,” McQueen said. “[It] is not only a great benefit to the Lewes Police Department, but also to the citizens they serve and protect.”
Members of DPAC toured the Lewes Police Department in May to review the department’s compliance with 108 different standards.
“When we came for the on-site [visit], we started several months before that; the dedication and commitment the chief and the officers and the lieutenant here in the community were exemplary, right across the board,” said Sean Moriarty, POST executive director.
The commission unanimously recommended the department be state-accredited soon after.
Lewes Police Chief Tom Spell said policing does not happen by luck.
“It happens by good, old-fashioned work. It happens by showing up every day and doing your best in service to others. It happens by have an enduring commitment to our community,” he said. “The men and women of the Lewes Police Department do just that.”
Lewes Police is the 11th agency to be state-accredited, but the first to go through POST evaluation. Eleven larger agencies are federally accredited.
McQueen said there are 28 Delaware police agencies that still have to go through the DPAC process.
“We count ourselves fortunate to have the team that we do,” said Lewes Mayor Andrew Williams. “That starts with Chief Spell, the team he’s put together and the leadership. The respect they have and the kind of culture they’ve built is impressive.”
The city also honored one of its former police officers at the Aug. 12 meeting.
Williams and Spell gave former officer Cpl. Chatham Marsch a certificate of retirement from the City of Lewes.
Marsh left the department in July, completing 19 years of service with the city.
“It was fun working here, getting to know everybody. I couldn’t have asked for a better career in the City of Lewes,” Marsh said.
Marsh is now working as an investigator with the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office.
City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe also announced that Lewes police detective Casey Crapps has been promoted to corporal. Crapps has been with the department since 2018.
