Dover –  A total of 83 people were arrested statewide last week for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs. Of those 83 individuals, eleven (11) were arrested at DUI checkpoints conducted by the New Castle County DUI Task Force. Police officers also made 5 drug arrests, apprehended 3 wanted persons, and made 37 other traffic arrests.  Statewide, there have been 2,333 DUI arrests made in Delaware this year.

DUI checkpoints continue and are scheduled for:

Saturday August 8 – Stanton – (New Castle County DUI Taskforce)

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive.  The campaign is a six month long effort coordinated locally by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints & patrols statewide.  Delaware had 4,086 DUI arrests statewide for 2014.

For a list of DUI checkpoints in your area text CHECKPOINT to 99000 or for a list of cabs text TAXI to 99000.  More information and resources on Checkpoint Strikeforce can be found at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.ArrriveAliveDE.com. Follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE, and subscribe to YouTube channel DelawareOHS.

The Delaware State Police and the Delaware Department of Justice have announced the indictment and arrest of two women in Sussex County believed to be responsible for the deaths of children in two separate cases. Both were indicted by a grand jury on Monday and have been arrested.

Valorie Handy, 51 of Millsboro, was indicted Monday, July 27, 2015 on one charge of Murder by Abuse or Neglect 1st Degree in the death of a 10-month old victim in her daycare in January. The case had been ruled a homicide.

On Wednesday January 28, 2015 around 2:15 p.m., troopers were dispatched to Handy’s Little Disciples daycare located at 28194 Layton-Davis Road after a 9-1-1 call was received from the home stating a 10 month old was unresponsive. Preliminary investigation suggests a daycare worker attempted to wake the 10 month old male from a nap, and upon doing so, observed the infant unresponsive. The young child was transported by EMS to Beebe Healthcare in Lewes where he was eventually pronounced dead.

On Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Handy was taken into custody near her residence and presented before the Sussex County Superior Court and was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of $100,000 cash bond.

Detoshia Spence, 23, of Laurel was indicted on Monday, July 27, 2015 on the following charges: Murder by Abuse or Neglect 1st degree, 2 counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, 2 counts of Child Abuse 2nd, and Offensive Touching in the death of her 3-year old daughter in April.

The preliminary investigation started on Friday, April 17, 2015, at approximately 7:17 p.m., after a call was received by the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center reporting CPR in progress. The Laurel Police Department, Laurel Fire Department, and Sussex County Paramedics were dispatched to the 900 block of Daniel Street, Carvel Gardens Laurel, DE. The victim was turned over to the Division of Forensic Sciences where an autopsy was performed. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

On Wednesday, July 29, 2015, Spence turned herself in at DSP Troop 4 and then presented before Sussex County Superior Court. She was committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in default of an $111,100.00 cash bond.

“The deaths of children at the hands of those who are supposed to be caring for them are tragic and heartbreaking cases,” Attorney General Matt Denn said. “The police and prosecutors in these two cases spent months investigating the cases and reviewing evidence, including complex medical evidence about how each of these children died. I am proud of how a team of DOJ criminal prosecutors and DSP troopers in Sussex, led by Deputy Attorney General Melanie Withers, worked through these tough cases to get to these indictments.”

Dover –  A total of 90 people were arrested statewide last week for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs. Statewide, there have been 2,250 DUI arrests made in Delaware this year.

DUI checkpoints continue and are scheduled for:

Friday July 31 –  Wilmington – (New Castle County DUI Taskforce)

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders by using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive.  The campaign is a six month long effort coordinated locally by the Delaware Office of Highway Safety and involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints & patrols statewide.  Delaware had 4,086 DUI arrests statewide for 2014.

For a list of DUI checkpoints in your area text CHECKPOINT to 99000 or for a list of cabs text TAXI to 99000.  More information and resources on Checkpoint Strikeforce can be found at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.ArrriveAliveDE.com. Follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE, and subscribe to YouTube channel DelawareOHS.

Traffic fatalities are trending upward for 2015

Dover – Highway safety officials are urging motorists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians to focus on the task of driving and/or safely crossing the road.  May, June and July have seen an above-average number of fatalities as compared to the five-year average. Statewide, there were 34 fatalities between May and July and a total of 62 persons have lost their lives in fatal crashes this year.

A variety of factors are at work in causing the crashes according to fatality reports, but what appear to be common factors are speed, impairment, and unsafe crossing by pedestrians. The months of June and July have seen an increase in speed related crashes; July has 13 crashes alone.  Of those 13 crashes, five of them were crashes where a pedestrian died.  Since January 1^st of this year there have been a total of 18 pedestrian fatalities, compared to 10 at this time last year.

“An overwhelming majority of crashes are preventable. Using crosswalks, limiting your distractions and slowing down can prevent you from being involved in a crash,” said Jana Simpler, Director for the Office of Highway Safety.

Motorcycle crashes are also trending upward with 9 fatalities to date this year. There were 15 motorcycle fatalities in all of 2014.  Factors leading to motorcycle crashes include speed and loss of control.  “With many more warm riding days ahead, we urge motorcyclists to freshen up their riding skills and take one of the rider training courses offered by DMV or other partners,”  said Alison Kirk Community Relations Officer, Office of Highway Safety. “If the crash trend continues, we may end with more motorcycle fatalities than last year.”

OHS reminds all drivers to go back to the basics of driving safety:  slow down, don’t drink and drive and always buckle up.  Plan extra time to get to any destination so you don’t let traffic frustration cause you to make a bad decision behind the wheel.

Follow OHS for regular updates on Facebook ArriveAliveDE, Twitter @DEHighwaySafe, and www.ohs.delaware.gov.

Today Lewis D. Schiliro, Delaware’s Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security, announced the retirement of Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) Director Jamie Turner and the appointment of his successor, Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder Fire Chief Abel J. Schall Jr.

“Jamie Turner has dedicated much of his life to the service of our citizens. His impact on our public safety community extends beyond his years as DEMA director. He has touched hundreds of firefighters as an instructor at the Delaware Fire School and as DVFA Executive Secretary. He has served his community of Clayton as a member of the fire department since 1966. The citizens of our great State are forever grateful for his commitment to public safety,” said Governor Jack Markell.

“After 13 years of protecting the people and visitors to Delaware, we owe Jamie a great debt of gratitude for his long-standing public service as he moves toward retirement,” said Schiliro. “AJ Schall, who will succeed Jamie, has the experience and stands ready to take over the reins at DEMA to ensure the continued safety of Delawareans.”

Schall began his public safety service more than 20 years ago as a volunteer with the Kane County Office of Emergency Management in Illinois. He continued his public safety service when he relocated to Delaware and joined the Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder Company in 1999. He is currently Chief of Aetna Hose Hook and Ladder and has served at the helm since 2013.

“As a member of our public safety community for more than two decades, AJ has responded to countless emergencies often providing lifesaving aid to our citizens. The wealth of experience and knowledge gained as a fireman, certified emergency medical technician and incident commander will prove invaluable as he leads our State emergency management agency,” said Governor Jack Markell.

As Chief, Schall currently oversees and manages 10 full-time firefighters and emergency medical technicians, 30 part-time firefighters and EMTs and more than 80 active volunteers. He has held many other leadership positions at Aetna Hose including Captain, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief and Safety Officer.

“AJ brings the expertise and experience needed to lead DEMA, coordinate with our county and municipal emergency management officials, and partner with FEMA. He is well respected within the public safety community and is a proven leader with the skills necessary to handle an event that could impact our State,” said Secretary Schiliro.

He has served as incident commander for several large emergency incidents including the Interstate 95 MCI/tour bus crash with entrapment, a semi-truck accident with 20 million bees, and a tornado response to the Robscott Community.

Schall has received multiple awards in his time with Aetna, including Top 10 Responder for multiple years and the Valor Award in 2000 after he and two other firefighters were momentarily trapped in a townhouse fire in Pike Creek. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from St. Ambrose University and has earned numerous fire officer and fire instructor certifications from the National Fire Professional Association.

“I’m truly excited and honored to be part of a team devoted to the Safety and Homeland Security of our State. I look forward to the opportunity to lead DEMA in its day-to-day operations and work with our public safety partners,” Schall said.

In addition to his role as Aetna fire chief, Schall has been employed by Bank of America since 1998. He will begin at DEMA on August 24, 2015.