Young heroes sworn in as honorary Rehoboth Police officers

Two Rehoboth Elementary students who won an essay contest describing their experiences helping someone in danger were sworn in as honorary officers of the Rehoboth Beach Police Department June 17. 

Rehoboth Elementary School Resource Officer Robert Scisco said he decided to expand Bike Safety Month, typically held in May, to encompass all aspects of safety.

“During that time, I gave safety presentations to all the grades, including virtual students,” Scisco said. “Topics included stranger danger, internet safety, bike safety and first aid.”

Students submitted posters and essays to win different prizes, Scisco said, and fifth-graders Alexis Zolper and Nicholas DeEmedio submitted winning essays about their personal experiences with first aid.

Nicholas wrote that he was at the beach in Dewey last summer when his father, who was bodysurfing, injured himself and started yelling for help. Nicholas said he and his sister swam in to hold their father up until lifeguards and Good Samaritans arrived and had him transported to the hospital.  

Thankfully, Nicholas wrote, his father didn’t need surgery, but he did have to wear a neck brace for six weeks due to a spinal fracture. Nicholas said he was thankful to those who helped his father. 

“They were never forced to do it, but they still did,” he wrote. “Maybe today, you can get out and help someone, too.”

Alexis, a Rehoboth Beach junior lifeguard, wrote about her vacation in Massachusetts when she noticed the tide began to sweep a young boy into deeper water. 

“I jumped in and swam out to him,” Alexis wrote. “I finally got to him and told him to swim with me, that I would help him get back to the dock.” 

Alexis said she knew from lifeguarding to swim parallel to a fishing dock, so she grabbed the boy’s arm and helped him swim to shore.

The oath of office administered by Rehoboth Beach Alderman Renee Bennett to students included swearing to faithfully and fairly perform duties given by the city, to listen to their parents the first time they are asked to do something, to practice good manners and help others in need, to get good grades and listen to their teachers, and to always be respectful and courteous.

Mayor Stan Mills said he read the students’ essays and was very proud of them and their actions.

“I think you’re awesome for making this commitment,” he said.

After the ceremony, students toured the police department and dispatch center, conducted a foot patrol on the Boardwalk and an ATV patrol on the beach, and learned how to dust for prints and document a crime scene. 

Rehoboth Beach Police Chief Keith Banks said the essays would be framed and displayed for a year in the police department.