Last Friday, I had an unsettling experience when my car began to overheat due to a leaking coolant line. Once the issue began to escalate, my instinct was to complete my two-mile trip home to get coolant into my car as quickly as possible. Sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Route 1 south outside Lewes truly challenged my patience and my nerves.
At this point, I noticed a Delaware State Police trooper gesturing that I needed to turn off of the highway. Despite my insistence that I was close to home, he insisted that I enter the Wawa parking lot. Instead of offering assistance or checking to see if I was OK, the unnamed officer proceeded to berate me for my malfunctioning vehicle. Not once did he ask, “Are you OK? Is there anything I can do to help?” This officer chose to share that while it was unsafe to continue driving, I could easily afford to fix whatever was wrong with my vehicle (it is a 2018 Jaguar F-Pace SUV). He continued that if I chose to leave while the vehicle was still overheating, he would follow me, ticket me and tow the vehicle.
The Delaware State Police’s mission is to “enhance the quality of life for all Delaware citizens and visitors by providing professional, competent and compassionate law enforcement services.” This officer exhibited none of these qualities and left me feeling completely deflated as a Delaware resident. Given his approach and demeanor, it leads me to believe that he treats other drivers this way as well. This officer could not have been any less helpful, and it is my hope that his behavior and treatment of me is not representative of the Delaware State Police force.
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