(New Castle, DE 19720) On Monday, September 2, 2024, patrol officers with the New Castle County Division of Police responded to the 300 block of E. Roosevelt Avenue in Penn Acres for a criminal mischief. It was discovered the Lt. Joseph Szczerba memorial sign was vandalized with spray paint sometime over the weekend. Lt. Szczerba made the ultimate sacrifice when he was murdered in the line of duty on September 16, 2011, and members of the community placed this sign in his honor.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Unit have assumed the investigation are asking if residents in the area can review their video surveillance between August 31, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. until September 2, 2024, at 9:35 a.m. for any suspicious activity that may be related to this. If you have any information about this investigation, please contact Detective Vucci at Daniel.vucci@newcastlede.gov or (302) 395-2744.

Tips can be forwarded to:

• New Castle County Division of Police non-emergency number at (302) 573-2800

• Criminal Investigation Unit at (302) 395-8110

• Online through Facebook (IM) “New Castle County Police”

• Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333

• Online at http://www.delawarecrimestoppers.com

Tips can be submitted anonymously.