Georgetown plans Dec. 28 vigil for slain trooper
The Town of Georgetown has scheduled a candlelight vigil from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, in honor of a state trooper killed in the line of duty Dec. 23 at the state Division of Motor Vehicles office in New Castle.
“It’s a way to bring out troopers and other law enforcement together to show we support them,” said Georgetown Mayor Bill West.
West said the event at The Circle will be an opportunity for police and their families to grieve in a less formal setting than a funeral for Cpl. Matthew T. “Ty” Snook, 34, of Hockessin, a dedicated 10-year veteran of the Delaware State Police.
The town has invited troopers and police officers from across Sussex County for the vigil, West said. Gov. Matt Meyer and other state officials were also invited but it was unclear if any will participate, the mayor said.
Plans call for emergency vehicles of all kinds to ring the historic circle in the heart of town during the vigil.
Meyer ordered all flags at state buildings and facilities to be flown at half-staff in remembrance of Snook.
“Today, we mourn the loss of a Delaware State [Police] trooper who gave his life in the line of duty,” Meyer said in a statement. “He made the ultimate sacrifice to protect his fellow Delawareans, and our hearts are broken for his family. We are praying for them, their loved ones and every state trooper as they grieve this sudden and unimaginable loss.
“Protecting the lives and livelihoods of Delawareans is our most fundamental responsibility, and moments like this underscore both the risks our first responders take and the courage they show every day. We are deeply grateful to the state and local law enforcement officers and emergency personnel whose professionalism and quick action helped prevent further harm.”
A native Delawarean, Snook was a graduate of Saint Mark’s High School and the University of Maryland, where he was a member of the wrestling team. He was a respected colleague, a trusted partner and a beloved member of both the Delaware State Police and the community he served. He is survived by his wife and their 1-year-old daughter.
Kevin Conlon came to the Cape Gazette with nearly 40 years of newspaper experience since graduating from St. Bonaventure University in New York with a bachelor's degree in mass communication. He reports on Sussex County government and other assignments as needed.
His career spans working as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers in upstate New York, including The Daily Gazette in Schenectady. He comes to the Cape Gazette from the Cortland Standard, where he was an editor for more than 25 years, and in recent years also contributed as a columnist and opinion page writer. He and his staff won regional and state writing awards.
Conlon was relocating to Lewes when he came across an advertisement for a reporter job at the Cape Gazette, and the decision to pursue it paid off. His new position gives him an opportunity to stay in a career that he loves, covering local news for an independently owned newspaper.
Conlon is the father of seven children and grandfather to two young boys. In his spare time, he trains for and competes in triathlons and other races. Now settling into the Cape Region, he is searching out hilly trails and roads with wide shoulders. He is a fan of St. Bonaventure sports, especially rugby and basketball, as well as following the Mets, Steelers and Celtics.
