Community coming together for injured Milford officer
The community is coming together to support the Milford police officer who was hospitalized following a shootout north of Rehoboth Beach Dec. 10.
Sr. Cpl. T.J. Webb was released from Christiana Hospital Dec. 17 and will continue to recover from gunshot wounds he sustained while attempting to apprehend a wanted man at the Econo Lodge on Route 1 while working with the First State Violent Fugitive Taskforce. The man, 37-year-old Evelio Rivera of Reading, Pa., was wanted for attempted criminal homicide.
“Officer Webb has been a valuable asset to the City of Milford Police Department during his tenure,” said Milford Police Chief Kenneth Brown. “His integrity and dedication to law enforcement as well as his personal life is admired by all. We are encouraged with his recovery progress, which is motivated in part by the mass amounts of support received from his family, friends, the community and emergency services throughout the state.”
Upon heading home from the hospital Dec. 17, Webb was met along Route 1 by emergency responders from throughout the state who were parked along the shoulder and on overpasses to show their support.
Larry Thompson of Delaware Helping Warriors Outdoors and Susanne Whitney of A Walk In Their Shoes created a Facebook page called TJW #5107 Strong to funnel information. The page was created with permission of Webb’s family.
Among the things they’ve been able to accomplish so far is the creation of an account for donations with the Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union in the name of Amanda Webb, T.J.’s wife. DSPFCU has locations in Georgetown, Cheswold and New Castle. Donations may be made by visiting a branch and asking to make a deposit into Amanda Webb’s account. Checks made out to Amanda Webb or DSPFCU with a note that it’s for Cpl. Webb may also be mailed to any DSPFCU branch. Those with a DSPFCU account may make an internal transfer.
Other fundraisers are being shared through the TJW #5107 Strong Facebook page. They include auctions for a set of Thin Blue Line cornhole boards by Old Dog Woodcrafts and a Don’t Tread On Me Battlescar flag by Blueline CNC. The site has also shared a Pampered Chef page where 15 percent of sales and an additional 10 percent from consultant Robin Gorman will be donated to the family.
DSPFCU locations
700 North Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947
6349 North DuPont Highway, Cheswold, DE 19936
235 Christiana Road, New Castle, DE 19720
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.
