Serious Crash on Christina Parkway

On May 28, 2023, at about 0424 hours, Newark Police responded to Christina Parkway (SR 4), in the area of the Amtrak railroad bridge east of Elkton Road, for a report of a serious vehicle crash.  Arriving officers located two vehicles in the roadway, each occupied once.

An investigation at the scene determined that a 2008 Toyota Tacoma was eastbound on Christina Parkway.  A 2017 Ford Taurus was westbound on Christina Parkway.  The vehicles collided head-on.

The driver of the Toyota suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital.

The driver of the Ford, an Aberdeen, Maryland police officer operating an unmarked police vehicle on his way into work, was trapped in his vehicle.  It took about 45 minutes for him to be extricated.  He was transported to an area hospital by ambulance in critical condition.

The driver of the Toyota, Johnathan Hendricks, 24, of Middletown, was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.  He was released on his own recognizance for medical treatment.

Christina Parkway was closed for about four hours while the crash was investigated and cleared.

Newark Police were assisted at the scene by Aetna Hose, Hook & Ladder Company, Christiana Fire Company, Delaware State Police Aviation Section and New Castle County EMS paramedics.

An investigation by the Newark Police Department Traffic Unit is still underway to determine the circumstances of the crash.  Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact M/Cpl W. Aston at (302) 366-7100 x. 3414 or waston@newark.de.us. Additional methods for providing information to Newark Police can be found on our tips page.


Prior Releases
Road Open
Road Closed


Newark Police Department Promotes 11 Officers & Presents 2022 Awards

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.

 

Chief Farrall with City Manager Tom Coleman

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.

Captain Rieger with Chief Farrall

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.

Lt. D’Elia with Chief Farrall

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.

Lt. Bolden with Chief Farrall

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.

Sgt. Smith with Chief Farrall

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.

Sgt. Olicker with Chief Farrall

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.

Sgt. Potocki with Chief Farrall

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.

M/Cpl Bystricky with Chief Farrall

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.

M/Cpl Whitt with Chief Farrall

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.

M/Cpl McKennon with Chief Farrall

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.

M/Cpl Golden with Chief Farrall

 

Promoted Officers 2023

Awards Ceremony

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

Purple Heart

M/Cpl N. Sansone                Cpl. C. Rivers

Lifesaving Award

Cpl. P. Klein                           PO R. Parker                      Ms. Jessica Czerwinski

Citation for Merit

Sgt. T. Maiura                       Ms. Melissa Pennachi         Ms. Antoinette Sulgia

Unit Citation

Capt. M. Van Campen         M/Cpl P. Keld (2)                 Cpl. D. Marsilii

Lt. G. D’Elia                            M/Cpl J. Kendrick (2)           Cpl. A. Mease

Lt. F. Nelson                          M/Cpl J. Marconi                 Cpl. K. Odom

Lt. S. Rieger                           M/Cpl M. Menden              Cpl. A. Pagnotti

Lt. A. Rubin                           M/Cpl W. Smith (2)             Cpl. C. Rivers (2)

Sgt. T. Bolden                       M/Cpl A. Whitt                     Cpl. A. Stevens

Sgt. J. Conover                     Cpl. J. Almonte (2)               Cpl. D. Velasquez

Sgt. G. Micolucci                  Cpl. P. Barnes                       Cpl. R. Vernon

Sgt. T. Maiura                       Cpl. D. Burgess                     Cpl. R. Zappaterrini

Sgt. D. Saunders                   Cpl. T. Gerasimov                 PO R. Parker

Sgt. J. Skinner                       Cpl. A. Golden                      CO II L. Silverman

Sgt. M. Watson                     Cpl. N. Graber                       CO M. Downey

M/Cpl W. Aston                   Cpl. M. Gruszecki (2)               CO T. Henderson

M/Cpl D. Bystricky               Cpl. P. Klein                             CO A. Johnson

DUI Enforcement Ribbon

M/Cpl C. McKennon            PO R. Parker                         PO J. Saitis

Letter of Commendation

M/Cpl B. Potocki                   Cpl. C. McKennon                Cpl. A. Maiura

PO R. Young                          Sgt. E. Selhorst (NCCPD)

2022 Annual Awards Conferred by Outside Organizations

Lion’s Club Officer of the Year                                       Cpl. A. Vari

VFW Officer of the Year                                                   M/Cpl A. Whitt

Newark Rotary Club Officer of the Year                        Cpl. C. Rivers

Knights of Columbus Officer of the Quarter Award

First Quarter                        Cpl. A. Vari

Second Quarter                   PO J. Saitis

Third Quarter                       Cpl. D. Burgess

Fourth Quarter                     M/Cpl C. McKennon & Cpl. A. Vari

Officers receiving awards from Chief Farrall
Awards issued to officer and civilian
Civilian employee Ms. Pennachi receives award

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