WILMINGTON, Del., April 17, 2014 -- County Executive Tom Gordon and other dignitaries attended the New Castle County Police Academy's 39th Recruit Class Graduation at the Chase Center on the Riverfront Thursday night.
The County Executive and other dignitaries witnessed the graduation of 17 police officers from the NCCPD Academy. Of the 17 graduates, 14 joined New Castle County Police, two joined the Middletown Police Department, and one joined the University of Delaware Police.
Colonel E.M. Setting presented the Chief of Police Outstanding Recruit Award to John Lech, and Chief Setting presented the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award to Everardo Pañeda, Jacob Gruber, Michelle Wharton (Middletown), and Michael Slater (UD).
Lech also won the Outstanding Physical Fitness Award while Robert Horton (Middletown) won the Firearms Proficiency Award.
Anthony Fortino, Jr. received the New Castle County Police Alumni Association Core Values Award, and Michelle Wharton (Middletown) won the Attorney General's Award.
County Executive Gordon praised all of the graduates for their outstanding work ethic and commitment to public safety.
With County Executive Gordon were Chief Administrative Officer David Grimaldi, Chief of Staff Jim McDonald, Director of Public Safety Joe Bryant, Jr., U.S. Attorney for Delaware Charles Oberly III, Attorney General's Office Chief of Staff Timothy Mullaney, Councilmen Bill Bell and Joe Reda, and several other dignitaries.