Bill Text: DE SCR13 | 2013-2014 | 147th General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Honoring The Delaware Capitol Police For Their Distinguished Service In Protecting The Health, Safety And Well-being Of All Delawareans And Others Who Visit Delaware State Government Facilities.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-04-24 - Passed in House by Voice Vote [SCR13 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2013-SCR13-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Sen. Blevins & Rep. Schwartzkopf & Sen. Henry & Sen. Lavelle & Sen. McBride & Sen. Simpson & Sen. Lawson, on behalf of all Senators & Rep. Hudson & Rep. Longhurst & Rep. D. Short & Rep. Viola, on behalf of all Representatives |
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DELAWARE STATE SENATE 147th GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 13 |
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HONORING THE DELAWARE CAPITOL POLICE FOR THEIR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN PROTECTING THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL DELAWAREANS AND OTHERS WHO VISIT DELAWARE STATE GOVERNMENT FACILITIES. |
WHEREAS, the Delaware Capitol Police has its origin in a three-man unit established in 1965 to watch over Legislative Hall in order to deter vandalism of the property; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the unit then known as "Capitol Security" was later expanded to include surveillance of several other state properties, and was, at this early stage in its history, unfunded and reliant upon donations and transfers of equipment from other agencies; and
WHEREAS, the security officers, who then received no formal training, were unarmed and carried only nightsticks, handcuffs and tear gas canisters, making use of a used state vehicle with no markings, emergency lighting or radios; and
WHEREAS, in July, 1974, Thomas Murray, then Director of Administrative Services, saw a need to expand the role of Capitol Security and began a two-week basic police/security training course for officers, including weapons qualification; and
WHEREAS, Capitol Security officers were thereafter allowed to be armed and were sworn in as state constables with the same arrest powers as officers of the Dover City Police while on state property; and
WHEREAS, after that change in their scope and mission, Capitol Security officers began attending the Delaware State Police Academy for formal police training and the force was redesignated the "Capitol Security Police" and was equipped with fully-equipped police vehicles, new uniforms and a police canine unit; and
WHEREAS, by 1980, all Capitol Security Police officers who were qualified to attend the Delaware State Police Academy had completed their training, and, with the completion of the Carvel State Office Building in Wilmington, the size of the force was expanded to allow for police coverage of that building as well; and
WHEREAS, at the time of this expansion, the force was officially renamed the "Delaware Capitol Police," followed several years later by the granting of statewide arrest powers to members of the force; and
WHEREAS, during the 1990's, there were further changes, including the inclusion of the Division of Capitol Police in the Department of Public Safety (later renamed the Department of Safety and Homeland Security by Governor Ruth Ann Minner); and a further integration of its communications center into the state communications center; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, and particularly since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the nation, the mission of the Capitol Police has continued to expand, with an extension of its responsibility over new courthouses and court facilities in all three counties, as well as other state buildings; and
WHEREAS, the importance of the Delaware Capitol Police was dramatically demonstrated during the tragic events of Monday, February 11, 2013, when a gunman in the lobby of Wilmington's New Castle County Courthouse opened fire on several women who were waiting to go through the metal detectors in the lobby area and enter the court, killing two persons and then killing himself during an exchange of gunfire with the Capitol Police officers who were on the scene, two of whom were slightly wounded in the exchange; and
WHEREAS, other Capitol Police officers in the area placed their own lives in danger by helping to protect many of the estimated 50 to 60 persons then in that part of the building; and
WHEREAS, this incident, tragic as it was, was a graphic reminder both of the high level of professionalism of the Delaware Capitol Police and of the importance of their mission of guarding state government facilities and those who use them;
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 147th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the members do hereby express the heartfelt thanks of all Delawareans to the Delaware Capitol Police for their outstanding service to the citizens they are sworn to protect.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Senate and the House commend in particular all those members of the Delaware Capitol Police who were involved in the events at the New Castle County Courthouse on the 11th Day of February, 2013, and the subsequent investigation and other activities attendant thereto.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies of this Senate Concurrent Resolution be presented to the Delaware Capitol Police upon its passage, together with the thanks and best wishes of this body.
SYNOPSIS
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This Senate Concurrent Resolution recounts the history of the Delaware Capitol Police, describes their response to the shootings at Wilmington's New Castle County Courthouse on Feb. 11, 2013, and commends them for their distinguished service to the citizens of Delaware. |
Author: Senator Lawson
