DSP Col. Nathaniel McQueen Jr. Assumes Command of Delaware State Police

Today Governor Jack A. Markell joined Lewis D. Schiliro, Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security, as Col. Nathaniel McQueen Jr., 46, assumed command of the Delaware State Police.

The Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Delaware State Police held a Change of Command Ceremony to officially mark the start of Col. McQueen’s role as DSP Superintendent. Col. McQueen, a 24-year DSP veteran, was tapped to lead the State’s largest police agency following the retirement of Col. Robert M. Coupe.

The ceremony which featured the DSP Honor Guard and Pipes and Drums was attended by many members of the Delaware General Assembly and Delaware law enforcement community as well as public safety partners, former DSP Colonels and retirees and the men and women of the Delaware State Police.

“Keeping our fellow citizens safe is state government’s most fundamental responsibility and the Colonel of the Delaware State Police is integral to upholding that responsibility,” said Governor Markell. “When it comes to a Colonel, people expect a leader with integrity, character and good judgment. Colonel McQueen has a reputation for being able to relate to anyone and has already displayed strength of leadership as a strong manager. I am confident he is fully prepared for this position and will serve the Delaware State Police and the people of Delaware well.”

“Col. McQueen is a highly qualified, experienced and proven leader with expansive knowledge of the Delaware State Police and its operations” Sec. Schiliro said. I have full faith and confidence in his ability to lead the men and women of the Delaware State Police and to serve the citizens of our State. As he has during his career, he will continue to lead with integrity and compassion.”

“I am truly blessed and honored by the privilege to serve as the 25th Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Governor Markell and Secretary Schiliro for giving me this opportunity to serve,” Col. McQueen said. “The Delaware State Police is an agency rich in history and tradition. As we approach our 90th anniversary, we will continue to enhance the quality of life for all Delaware citizens and visitors by providing professional, competent law enforcement services.”

-More-

Maj. McQueen joined the DSP ranks in 1988 and has served in many leadership roles during his career. Leadership roles include Operations Major managing all troops statewide; Troop Commander at Troop 1 Penny Hill, Troop 2 Bear, and Troop 9 Odessa; Patrol Lieutenant at Troop 3 Camden and Deputy Troop Commander at Troop 2 CIU responsible for the Major Crimes Unit; Domestic Violence Unit; Polygraph Examiner; and Youth Aid Unit. In addition, Maj. McQueen worked as a patrol and detective sergeant and served as the DSP sketch artist. He was a member of the DSP Critical Incident Stress Management Team and the Officer In-Charge of the DSP Honor Guard Unit. In 1991, Maj. McQueen received the Delaware State Police Valor Award.

Maj. McQueen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science from Wilmington University and a Master of Science degree in Social Work from Delaware State University. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy—the West Point of law enforcement. Before joining the Delaware State Police, he served as Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Maj. McQueen resides in Bear with his wife, Freda. He is the proud father of two children, Nathan and Nayla.

Video from the ceremony is on YouTube


Governor Markell Asks Delawareans to observe moment of silence for victims of school shooting

Governor Markell is asking Delawareans to join with the residents of Connecticut in observing a moment of silence on Friday at 9:30 a.m. in memory of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

“The people of Delaware have grieved and prayed for the people of Newtown, Conn. We have been joined in that grief by those from around the country and around the world. Governor Malloy of Connecticut has declared a day of mourning on Friday, December 21, and has asked his fellow governors to observe a moment of silence as well. So I request that Delawareans join the moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. on Friday to reflect and remember the lives that were lost so heartbreakingly, and to consider what we can do as individuals, as communities, as a state and as a country  to prevent future tragedies. I also suggest that churches or other institutions with the ability to do so toll 26 chimes in memory of the victims.”

Connecticut Gov. Malloy’s proclamation: http://governor.delaware.gov/docs/20121221dayofmourning.pdf


Governor Markell: In the aftermath of Sandy Hook Elementary School Violence in Connecticut

Mental Health Concerns, School Safety, Gun Laws

(Wilmington, DE) The Governor issued the following statement in response to troubling questions raised by the Connecticut school shooting :

As the father of two, I, like so many others around the country, have spent the last few days thinking about the issues that this awful incident raises. In homes, in businesses and in government, we are having conversations about what this means and what we need to do. What is clear is that we have a culture of violence in this country, coupled with ready access to guns, and we continue as a society to fail adolescents struggling with mental illness.  That reality is deeply concerning to me, as I know it is to others.  I see three areas of discussion taking place:

Mental Health

When skilled mental health professionals are present in the schools, they provide the best possible opportunity we have to identify young people who are in need of services and to connect those young people and their families with appropriate services.  We must work to remove more of the stigma associated with mental illness and recognize it for the disease that it is.  Access to treatment is critical, and my administration is preparing plans to expand that access, especially for children and teens.

School Safety

This year we created a new statewide protocol for comprehensive school safety plans in every public school.  Schools are now in the process, working with the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and with local emergency responders, of creating those plans.  To date, 30 schools have completed these plans and we have funded creation of school safety plans for the next 50 schools.  We need to make sure that we complete the effort to have comprehensive school safety plans completed for all schools. And it is important to recognize – and this is already inherent in the plans that are being created — that teachers and school officials are going to be the true first responders in an incident like this.

Guns Laws

In 2011, I proposed, and the General Assembly passed bills designed to strengthen enforcement around existing gun laws, including legislation to make sure Delaware does its part to keep those with disqualifying mental illnesses from obtaining guns. I am on the record as supporting  a ban on assault weapons with large magazines. As we move forward, I think and hope there are measures that reasonable gun owners can agree with — and in fact have started to voice support for in the last few days.

As we talk about access to mental health, and school safety, and access to guns, we also need to talk about family and social responsibility.  Too many kids are spending countless hours on video games and television shows and movies that glorify violence and treat human life as cheap and dispensable.  As parents, we need to exercise judgment.   As a society, we need to provide young people with other opportunities that will teach them to value themselves rather than devalue others.

These are the areas we need to discuss as a state – and in which we need to do a better a job for our citizens and our kids.


DUI Checkpoints Scheduled For 3rd Weekend in December

Dover – Five (5) people were arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs last weekend as part of the 2012 Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI prevention campaign.  This brings the total DUI arrests made in the campaign to 310.  Statewide, there have been over 4,600 DUI arrests made in Delaware this year.

In addition to the checkpoint DUI arrests, officers issued 1 cell phone citation, apprehended 1 wanted individual, made 2 drug arrests, issued 2 seat belt citations, and 26 citations for various other traffic violations.

Three checkpoints are scheduled to take place the weekend of December 15th.   They are scheduled for:

Friday December 14th –   Newark- (NCCo DUI Task Force)- checkpoint

Saturday December 15th –  Seaford- (multi-jurisdictional effort)- checkpoint

Dover- (multi-jurisdictional effort)- checkpoint

Checkpoint Strikeforce is a regional sobriety checkpoint campaign aimed at arresting DUI offenders, and using high visibility enforcement to deter those who would otherwise choose to drink and drive.  The campaign, a six month long effort running through New Year’s Eve, involves setting up weekly DUI checkpoints statewide.

For more information on Checkpoint Strikeforce visit www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com/SafeHolidays and follow regular campaign updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe and Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

 


DUI Victim Tree Has First Red Bulbs Of The Season

2 killed & 28 injured in impaired driving related crashes

Dover – This holiday season should be filled with joy and happiness but unfortunately, nearly 30 families have already experienced the heart ache of learning that their loved ones have been injured or killed in an impaired driving related crash.  According to police reports, since the Thanksgiving holiday, there have been 33 impaired driving related crashes that resulted in twenty (28) persons injured and two (2) persons killed.  Subsequently, 28 green light bulbs and 2 red light bulbs will be added to the DUI Victims Trees located in Beebe Hospital, Kent General Hospital, A.I. Dupont Hospital, Dover Downs employee cafeteria, and online at www.DUIRealTime.com/SafeHolidays . These will be the first colored bulbs placed on the trees since the start of the Safe Family Holiday Campaign which began on November 21st.

The DUI Victims Tree project memorializes impaired driving related deaths and injuries that occur during the campaign period by placing colored light bulbs on the tree to represent each victim.  Each red bulb on the tree symbolizes someone killed in an impaired driving related crash in Delaware between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.  Each green light bulb symbolizes someone injured in an impaired driving crash.  Last year, two people were killed and 27 injured in these crashes in Delaware during the holiday season.

DUI saturation patrols will continue throughout the entire holiday season and will supplement already scheduled Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI Checkpoints.  Last weekend 8 people were arrested for DUI as part of Checkpoint Strikeforce.  This brings the total campaign DUI arrests to 305, however there have been 4,511 DUI arrest made in Delaware since January 1st.

There is one checkpoint scheduled to occur this weekend as follows:

Friday December 7th Newport (New Castle County DUI Task Force)- checkpoint

Currently, 42 (or 40%) of the 106 people killed in Delaware traffic deaths since January 1st have been alcohol-related. You can prevent alcohol-related crashes by being a HERO – Be a Designated Driver, or make sure you appoint one before you go out for the evening if you plan to drink alcohol.

For more information on these or any of our other campaign efforts follow us on Twitter @DEHighwaySafe, visit our website for updates at www.ohs.delaware.gov, www.DUIRealTime.com/SafeHolidays or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.