WILMINGTON - A former Delaware State Police trooper has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a 2021 indictment involving non-existent traffic stops that he logged as e-warnings, authorities said.
On Monday Edwin R. Ramirez, 32, pleaded guilty to one count each of falsifying business records and official misconduct in New Castle County Superior Court.
“The facts in this case were clear,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings in a news release. “Mr. Ramirez’s misconduct victimized innocent motorists as part of a petty scheme, and undermined his fellow officers’ good work with this abuse of power.
“I’m grateful to the officers who came forward to report him and to the team that secured this outcome.”
Additionally, Delaware State Police Superintendent Col. Melissa Zebley said that “We initiated an investigation when we noticed evidence of potential misconduct. An internal review of the matter revealed a significant pattern of misconduct, so it was brought to the attention of the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust.
“Edwin Ramirez is no longer employed as a Delaware State Trooper. The Delaware State Police wants the public to know that our agency holds our core values in high regard.
“As evidenced by the outcome of the investigation, we will continue holding ourselves to a higher standard while maintaining the public’s trust in our agency.”
Ramirez was indicted in August 2021 following an investigation by the Delaware State Police that revealed a series of fraudulent E-Warnings issued by him. His Supervisor, in reviewing Ramirez’s reports, noticed discrepancies and investigated further.
In one month alone, Ramirez created false entries in state records by entering 33 warnings he never gave to motorists he never stopped. Ramirez had been suspended since May 2021. Ramirez was sentenced to two concurrent 12-month prison sentences suspended for 12 months of probation, was ordered to surrender his Council on Police Training certifications, and serve 33 hours of community service, one hour for each known fake warning.
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