Fallen Lewes officer to be honored
Seventy-five years after Charles Wilson Futcher Sr. died in the line of duty, the Lewes police officer will likely be honored with a plaque in Zwaanendael Park. The parks and recreation commission voted unanimously April 21 to recommend city council approve the plaque.
JuneRose Futcher has spearheaded the effort to recognize her grandfather.
"His loss had a tremendous impact on his immediate family – my late father, my late Aunt Helen, my grandmother and the broad communities of Kent and Sussex counties," she said.
Futcher was killed in a high-speed pursuit of a suspect on Savannah Road in 1939. He served 10 years with the Lewes Police Department prior to his death.
JuneRose has garnered support from all levels of government, from Mayor-elect Ted Becker to Rep. Steve Smyk. At the recommendation of the Lewes Police Department, she connected with the Delaware Fraternal Order of Police, which has pledged to pay for the plaque. Lewes Historian Hazel Brittingham has offered her assistance in tracking down documents to help tell Futcher's story.
If approved by city council, a ceremony is expected to be held in September. The Dover Police & Fire Pipes and Drums corps has committed to attend the ceremony, and Smyk has secured an honor guard.
Nick Roth is the news editor. He has been with the Cape Gazette since 2012, previously covering town beats in Milton and Lewes. In addition to serving on the editorial board and handling page layout, Nick is responsible for the weekly Delaware History in Photographs feature and enjoys writing stories about the Cape Region’s history. Prior to the Cape Gazette, Nick worked for the Delmarva Media Group, including the Delaware Wave, Delaware Coast Press and Salisbury Daily Times. He also contributed to The News Journal. Originally from Boyertown, Pa., Nick attended Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He’s won several MDDC awards during his career for both writing and photography. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, going to the beach with his family and cheering for Philadelphia sports teams.
