Smyrna police show solid work, few complaints in 2020
By SMYRNA — More manpower is coming to meet the public safety challenges that come with the Town of Smyrna’s rapidly growing population in northernmost Kent County.
Mayor Robert C. Johnson, who oversees the police department along with town council, said the town’s population of just over 11,000 may grow by four to five thousand within the next couple years, perhaps more.
By the end of 2021, Police Chief Torrie James expects the department’s number of officers to rise from the current 23 to its authorized strength of 29. Four recruits are slated to begin the 19-week Dover Municipal Police Academy in April, while two others are in the background investigation phase of the hiring process.
The department’s 2020 annual report (posted online at smyrnapolice.org) outlined just what the current officers faced and accomplished in the 12 months that saw the arrival of COVID-19. The report also included numbers from previous years for comparative purposes.
All things considered, Chief James liked what he saw.
“The main highlight and take away from 2020 in general was our agency’s ability to continue to deliver the highest level of police service to our citizens in the face of a global pandemic,” he said.
“We had to pivot many times during the last year in terms of our approach and response to issues and the ever-changing environment we were working in.
“Our early initiatives to combat the possible spread of COVID-19 amongst our staff led us to being very successful in keeping our officers and our building free of any outbreaks. We had a minimal number of employees affected overall.”
Also, Chief James said, “COVID-19 affected some of our numbers, especially early on and then when the second wave came. I am proud that even in the face of this virus we still conducted proactive traffic and criminal enforcement when possible.
Categories like traffic collisions were down due to the early lockdowns and people staying off the roadways.”
SPD’s staff also includes six full-time dispatchers, a records clerk, two other civilian administrative staff, a mental health clinician and part time (shared with town hall) IT position and janitor.
According to Mayor Johnson, “Personally, I think we have the best police department. Our officers are really, really good. The community really likes them and we don’t get that many complaints about our police department.
“I love the guys.”
The annual report showed property checks — including neighborhoods, businesses, schools, etc. — rising from 5,075 in 2019 to 5,619 in 2020.
“Property checks are a routine part of our patrol officers’ daily activity,” said Chief James, who joined SPD in 2000 and was promoted to oversee the department in April 2019.
“The main reason for the increase in these is due to COVID-19. With less face to face interactions, and a lower call volume at times, our officers had time to conduct more property checks.”
With the heavily traveled U.S. 13 north-south thoroughfare cutting through town, traffic enforcement continued to be a major emphasis in Smyrna. Traffic arrests rose from 2,871 in 2019 to 3,010, along with DUI arrests going from 57 to 64. Officers issued 2,188 traffic warnings, down from 2,388 in 2019.
“U.S. 13 is our most heavily traveled road,” Chief James said. “Patrol officers frequently monitor/enforce traffic laws on U.S. 13 in both marked and unmarked vehicles.
“We try to focus on areas of U.S. 13 and other roads in town that have the highest number of traffic collisions. We also partner with the Office of Highway Safety and conduct focused patrols for targeted violations like distracted driving, speeding and DUI.”
Of the total traffic arrests, 49% identified as Black, 48% as white, and 3% American Indian, Eskimo, Asian, Pacific Islander, or unknown, according to the report. The largest percentage of traffic arrests were given to Black non-Hispanic males at 27%, the report said.
“As you can see from the numbers, an almost exact even number of citations were issued to white and non-white motorists,” Chief James said.
“This is a direct reflection of our non-biased policing. It is also a reflection of our diverse community that is probably close to 50% white and 50% non-white.”
Car accidents dropped from 510 to 399 in 2020 compared to 2019.
“There was a lot less traffic on the roadways during the first four to six months of the pandemic,” Chief James said. “With less vehicles on the roads, there were less collisions.
“Our collision numbers today in 2021 are nearing back to what they were pre-pandemic.”
Only one time did a Smyrna police officer discharge his weapon in 2020 — during response to the report of a sick raccoon that was ultimately shot to death.
“Weapons discharges are rare for our agency,” Chief James said. “They mainly occur to euthanize a sick or injured animal. There is nothing out of the ordinary for only having one in 2020 to deal with a rabid animal.”
Spokesman Sgt. Brian Donner said the department’s last involved shooting came on May 2, 2015 when a man armed with a shotgun and menacing officers was shot and killed by police gunfire. A Delaware Department of Justice investigation determined that the use of force was justified.
Smyrna officers employed hands and feet physical control tactics in 27 incidents, in 2020 displayed a Taser 11 times and deployed the device nine times. Handguns were displayed 15 times and a rifle was brought out twice. A stop stick was deployed once.
Lt. Brian Moore completed a “Fair and Objective Policing Report” in the annual breakdown, detailing external, internal and citizen complaints, along with a use of force review that included firearm and Taser-related incidents.
“Based on the entries, the officers appear to be using appropriate levels of force given the situations,” the report said.
With training facilitated by the National Guard and the Firearms Training Simulator program, officers participated in scenario-based use of force training, according to the report.
A Special Services Commander was added to the administrative staff in 2020, and one of the duties included overseeing internal affairs.
Also, a three-party review system was established.
According to the annual report, “The investigation is conducted, the findings are then reviewed by the Operations Lieutenant, who is trained in internal affairs investigations.
“Disciplinary action is determined at that level and forwarded to the Chief of Police who reviews the investigative findings, the recommended disciplinary measures and has final approval.”
The department addressed two incidents of internal misconduct, one of which required an investigation against an officer.
One incident involved “a major high profile case where the reports had to be marked as restricted access.
“During that time anytime the report was accessed, the department received notification from (Delaware Justice Information System.)”
The police department received a report after an officer had accessed the report online, according to the annual summary.
“When asked, the officer advised that he was curious and he believed that since it was our case, he could view the report.
“It was nothing more than curiosity. The officer was (counseled) on the issue and the (counseling) was documented.”
The other incident involved two officers who arrived late to in-service training.
“The officers were not scheduled on the same day,” the report read. “Both officers’ supervisors addressed the issue and reviewed the policy on arriving for duty.
“A guardian entry was made for each (counseling) session.”
Smyrna PD’s partnership with mental health clinician Jim Deel continued, with funding for the position shifting from grant money to part of the Town of Smyrna’s budget.
“I look to expand his role in 2021 as he continues to help us deal with substance abuse issues and mental health problems in the community,” Chief James said.
Overall, Chief James said, “We will continue to strive everyday to provide the best service to our public and always focus on our mission statement which is to ‘Be better today than we were yesterday’ “
