Beth Welch
Chief of Media Relations
302-739-5601 ext. 232
September 10, 2002
*Press Release*
Dover Police Officer & DOC Probation Officer to Travel to N.Y.C. for 9/11 Honors
Officers Honored for Heroic Actions
DOVER - Two Delaware law enforcement officers will be in New York City on September 11 for the Ninth Annual TOP COPS Awards, sponsored by The National Association of Police Organizations. The ceremony will also pay tribute to New York City police and firefighters for their heroic actions during the attacks on the World Trade Center.
During the ceremony, Dover Police Officer David Spicer and Department of Correction Probation Officer Douglas Watts will be honored as a TOP COPS. TOP COPS recognizes the nation's top police officers, or groups of officers, for heroics, bravery, outstanding criminal investigation or other meritorious acts. Spicer and Watts will receive Honorable Mention awards.
Spicer and Watts will be honored for actions taken on March 24, 2001. The two officers, paired together on the inter-agency crime-fighting initiative called "Operation Safe Streets", were patrolling the Capitol Green section of Dover. The team stopped two individuals they observed engaged in a drug transaction. The suspects fled. The officers pursued one suspect. After being cornered, the suspect opened fire on the officers. Three shots hit Officer Spicer - two wounding him badly. Spicer fell to the ground. As the suspect was preparing to fire again at the downed officer at point-blank range, Officer Watts returned fire, hitting the suspect twice. This drew the attention of the suspect away from Officer Spicer - saving him from being shot again - potentially fatally. It also allowed Spicer to draw his weapon and fire at the suspect, who was now firing at Watts. The officers are credited with saving each other's lives.
The September 11th TOP COPS ceremony will be hosted by John Walsh of America's Most Wanted.
2002 Press Release Archive
