In a ceremony on May 23, 2023 at the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center, the Newark Police Department formally promoted eleven officers, including Deputy Chief Mark Farrall to Chief of Police.  Present at the ceremony were members of the Newark Police Department and their family and friends, Newark Police retirees, City of Newark staff and representatives of area police agencies.

Additional photos can be found in a gallery at the bottom of this post.

The following officers were promoted:

Chief Mark Farrall
Chief Farrall is a homegrown Chief.  Having grown-up in Newark, he is a Newark High School graduate. After starting with the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in 1993, he became a Newark Police Officer in 1995.  He has worked in many assignments, including Traffic Division, Street Crimes Unit, Administration Division and was a member of the SWAT team.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Delaware and is a graduate of the 242nd session of the FBI National Academy.  He was officially appointed as Chief of Police in February of this year.

Captain Scott Rieger
Captain Rieger was hired by the Newark Police Department in 1999.  He worked in the Street Crimes Unit, Criminal Investigations Division and previously worked assignments as both the Criminal Investigations and Patrol Division commander.  A graduate of Mansfield University, he is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.  He has been awarded two Unit Citations, an award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Citations for Merit and a Chief’s Citation.  His promotion was effective in February of this year.  He is now the Field Operations Bureau Commander.

Lieutenant Greg D’Elia
Lieutenant D’Elia was hired by the Newark Police Department in 2002 and spent five years assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as a Detective. Lt. D’Elia was then assigned to the Special Operations Unit, where he focused on problem-oriented policing.  He attended the West Point Command and Leadership school and achieved the top academic award.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State University and a Master’s Degree from Wilmington University.  Lt. D’Elia’s promotion was effective in October, 2022.  He is now the Patrol Division Commander.

Lieutenant Truman Bolden
Lieutenant Bolden was hired by the Newark Police Department in 2000 and spent his first seven years assigned to the Patrol Division.  He spent a significant portion of his career in the Traffic Unit and is a crash reconstructionist.  Lt. Bolden is a longtime SWAT operator and will now be the SWAT Commander.  He is a graduate of the University of Delaware and the West Point Command and Leadership school.  His promotion was effective in February of this year.  He is now the Special Enforcement Division Commander.

Sergeant William Smith
Sergeant Smith was hired by the Newark Police Department in 2010 and has worked in patrol, special operations and administration.  A SWAT veteran, he is now the team leader.  He regularly teaches defensive tactics and verbal defense and influence at various Delaware police academies. He has received multiple Officer of the Quarter awards, Citations for Merit, a Lifesaving Award and Officer of the Year.  His promotion was effective in November, 2022.  He is now a patrol shift supervisor.

Sergeant Aaron Olicker
Sergeant Olicker started at the Newark Police Department as a part-time dispatcher and was hired as a police officer in 2013.  He is a member of the Newark PD Crisis Negotiations Team and Honor Guard and is the CPR/AED coordinator.  He was recently elected President of FOP Lodge #4.  He is a graduate of Wilmington University.  He has received four DUI Enforcement Awards, Knights of Columbus Officer of the Quarter awards, Officer of the Year, and a Lifesaving award.  His promotion was effective in December, 2022. He is now a patrol shift supervisor.

Sergeant Blake Potocki
Sergeant Potocki was hired by Newark PD in 1998. He spent a significant part of his career in the Evidence Detection Unit and became an expert witness as to latent fingerprints. At one point, he was examining prints for multiple agencies around the state. He is on the Crisis Negotiations Team and presently supervises the Traffic Unit.  He attended college at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.  His promotion was effective in March of this year.

Master Corporal Daniel Bystricky
Master Corporal Bystricky enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after high school and was deployed to Iraq.  After graduating from Edinboro University, he was hired by Newark PD in 2011.  He spent six years as a detective and received multiple commendations, including a Lifesaving Award and Officer of the Year.  His promotion was effective in June, 2022.  He is now an assistant patrol shift supervisor.

Master Corporal Alex Whitt
Master Corporal Whitt was hired by Newark PD in 2015 and has served in both the Special Operations Unit and Criminal Investigations Division.  He is also a member of the Crisis Negotiations Team.  A graduate of the University of Delaware, he also holds a Master’s Degree from Wilmington University.  His promotion was effective in November, 2022.  He is now an assistant patrol shift supervisor.

Master Corporal Carter McKennon
Master Corporal McKennon joined Newark PD in 2016 after graduating from the University of Delaware.  He has served in both the Patrol Division and Street Crimes Unit.  He is a member of the Crisis Negotiations Team and Honor Guard.  He also serves as a Field Training Officer.  He has been awarded the DUI award six times, Officer of the Quarter three times and was named VFW Officer of the Year in 2021.  His promotion was effective in December, 2022.  He is now an assistant patrol shift supervisor.

Master Corporal Andrew Golden
Master Corporal Golden was hired by Newark PD in 2015.  A member of the SWAT team, he is also a firearms instructor, Field Evidence Technician and Field Training Officer.  He is a graduate of West Virginia University.  His promotion was effective in March of this year.  He is now an assistant patrol shift supervisor.

Awards Ceremony

Following the promotion ceremony, officers, civilians and officers from other agencies were presented with awards for their work in 2022:

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