On March 14, 2026, the Newark Police Department was re-accredited for the 10th time by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).   CALEA certification demonstrates that the Newark Police Department is in compliance with 467 standards for law enforcement agencies.

The re-accreditation process is ongoing and has annual reviews.   This is followed by an on-site review of the Newark Police Department’s policies and practices by an assessment team appointed by CALEA.    That onsite review occurred in November 2025, where the assessors spoke with agency employees, members of the public, community stakeholders, and other partners, who shared information about the agency and its practices.

Chief Mark Farrall, Deputy Chief Kevin Feeney, Accreditation Manager Mr. Gerald Bryda, and PSAP Manager Brian Cannon traveled to CALEA’s conference in Tucson, AZ, to answer questions from CALEA commissioners about the agency.  The Newark Police Department was awarded re-accreditation for both the Police and the PSAP Center.

The Newark Police Department achieved “Advanced Law Enforcement Re-Accreditation” with the Meritorious designation, signifying that it has maintained this standard since 1997.   Only about five percent of law enforcement agencies achieve accreditation with CALEA, with fewer for this duration.

The Newark Police Department’s Communications Center, which receives 911 calls in the City of Newark, sought and received its first “Communications Re-Accreditation.”  The Communications Center was required to meet 210 standards for police communications centers.    The Communications Center continues to be one of the few in the United States to be accredited, with only 150 PSAPs achieving this standard, despite over 6000 in existence.

About CALEA: 

The CALEA Accreditation programs provide public safety agencies with an opportunity to voluntarily meet an established set of professional standards, which require:

• Comprehensive and uniform written directives that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities
• Reports and analyses to make fact-based and informed management decisions.
• Preparedness to address natural or man-made critical incidents
• Community relationship-building and maintenance
• Independent review by subject matter experts
• Continuous pursuit of excellence through annual reviews and other assessment measures

On March 14, 2026, at approximately 12:01 a.m., the Newark Police Department responded to a reported stabbing that occurred in a business parking lot in the 100 block of Grove Lane.

The investigation determined that the victim was working as a rideshare driver and had picked up the suspect, with Grove Lane as the ending destination.

At the conclusion of the ride, the suspect, who was seated in the rear seat behind the driver, retrieved a knife and began violently stabbing the driver in the neck and the back of the head without any apparent provocation or warning.

The suspect then ordered the victim to exit the vehicle and continued attempting to stab him. The victim defended himself, prompting the suspect to flee the area on foot. The victim then drove away from the area and contacted the Newark Police, who responded to his location.

The victim sustained stab wounds to the neck, shoulder, back, and hand and was transported to a local hospital, where he was admitted and is currently being treated in stable condition.

Newark Police Detectives responded and assumed the investigation.  Through a myriad of investigative techniques, a suspect was developed and identified.

The Newark Police Department SWAT Team, and members of the Criminal Investigations Division, initiated warrant services at a residence location within the city limits of Newark.

Subsequently, a 17-year-old male was taken into custody without incident and transported to Newark Police Department Headquarters. An arrest warrant was obtained, charging the suspect with the following offenses:

• Attempted Murder 1st Degree
• Attempted Robbery 1st Degree
• Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony

The suspect is currently awaiting arraignment by the Justice of the Peace Court #11.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective John Saitis at 302-366-7100 ext. 3453 or jsaitis@newark.de.us. Additional methods for providing information to Newark Police can be found on our tips page, where reward information may also be available.