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Police and community come together at Lewes National Night Out

Current and former members of Lewes Police Department thank Fred Slater for his service as a police officer and as foreman of the city’s streets and maintenance department. Shown are (l-r) Lt. James Azato, PFC Casey Crapps, PFC Jonathan Moyer, Cpl. Rick Schiazza, Patrolman Nick Yatsko, Cpl. Chatham Marsch, retired Lt. Fred Slater, CSX Police Officer Mike Bullard (former Lewes Police), PFC Farrell Welch, PFC Brent Layfield and Chief Thomas Spell. NICK ROTH PHOTOS
Nick Roth
August 4, 2021

After being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, Lewes National Night Out returned Aug. 3 to George H.P. Smith Park, where police officers, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel and other first responders gathered with locals and visitors for an evening of community-building. 

The night featured a variety of free activities, including tours of fire trucks and ambulances, a bounce house and face painting. Sussex County paramedics offered free CPR lessons, while the Division of Public Health was on site administering COVID vaccines and COVID tests. 

Unlike previous years when food was prepared on site, the Lewes Police Department provided prepackaged subs, chips and drinks to ensure the event remained safe for all who attended. Free ice cream, a DJ, and bicycle and backpack raffles rounded out the evening. 

Toward the end of the event, Police Chief Tom Spell honored former police officer Fred Slater with a shadow box of LPD memorabilia to thank him for his service to the town. Slater was a police officer from 1984 to 2005, when he retired from policing as a lieutenant in Lewes. He moved on to work as the streets and maintenance department foreman from 2005 to 2020, when he fully retired from the city. National Night Out was the first opportunity Spell had to publicly thank him for his service. 

 

Fred Slater is all smiles after receiving his thanks from Police Chief Tom Spell.
Gia Scott, 6, of Milton has a rainbow painted on her face.
Although rain was threatening, the annual Lewes National Night Out event went off with no disruptions.
Representing Rehoboth Police Department are (l-r) seasonal officer Marie Fuller, Lt. William Sullivan and seasonal officer Cole Lankford.
Cole Brocki, 3, of Lewes pretends to be a police officer.
Lewes Police Chief Tom Spell, left, and Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, enjoy the event.
Representing the Lewes Police Foundation are (l-r) Neil Trugman, retired chief of Amtrak PD; volunteers Bob and Ellen Barker; and founders Daniel DeSimone, retired FBI special agent, and Jonathan Cherry, retired Secret Service deputy special agent.
Lewes Fire Department was well represented, offering tours of a fire truck and ambulance.
Avery Roth pretends to drive a fire truck.

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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. 

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