On August 31, 2021 the commander of the Office of Professional Standards for the New Castle County Division of Police was made aware of an excessive use of force incident that occurred in the prisoner processing area of Police Headquarters, located at 3601 North DuPont Highway, New Castle. This incident, which was reported by an officer who witnessed the encounter, involved a 16-year-old female prisoner and a New Castle County Police officer assigned to the processing area.

The commander reviewed the reported encounter and discovered what he believed to be criminal conduct on the part of the officer therefore, the matter was referred to the Division’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU).

The CIU commander conducted a weeks-long investigation, interviewing the female involved and several witnesses, including police officers. That investigation was turned over to the Department of Justice, Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust after determining that probable cause existed to charge the officer with a crime.

The Division of Police was informed by the Department of Justice that an indictment has been secured in New Castle County Superior Court, charging former New Castle County Police Corporal Michael Carnevale with the following charges: Offensive Touching, Official Misconduct, and Falsifying Business Records.

Through an internal investigation, Carnevale was found to have violated several New Castle County Police Policies. Prior to any discipline being imposed, he separated his employment with the New Castle County Division of Police.

Colonel Bloch, Chief of the New Castle County Division of Police issued the following statement:

“I am troubled by the interaction that occurred between Former Corporal Carnevale and the 16-year-old victim in this matter. While this is a sad day for the New Castle County Police, I can assure you the actions by Carnevale do not, in any way, represent the actions or beliefs of the many honorable officers of this Division. I am committed to making certain our officers hold themselves to the highest standard of conduct, treating each member of the public with the respect they deserve, ensuring their safety not only in our communities but also within our own walls. I’d like to express my gratitude to the officers who brought this excessive use of force incident to our attention and to our partners at the Department of Justice for assisting us in completing a thorough investigation.”

The Division of Police reminds the public that complaints against officers can be filed several ways:

• Online by accessing https://www.nccde.org/Police, and click “Report Misconduct
• In Person at Police Headquarters located at 3601 North DuPont Highway
• By phone at 302-395-8100 or 302-395-8008 (daytime hours)

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