Delaware State Trooper murdered in the line of duty.
On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, Corporal/1 Stephen J. Ballard, 32, was tragically shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle at a Wawa gas station on Pulaski Highway and Salem Church Road, in Bear, Delaware. He made contact with two people he observed in the vehicle, at which point one of the men began struggling with him. The man pushed Corporal Ballard away from him and began to run. After taking several steps he turned around and opened fire on Corporal Ballard, wounding him. The man then chased Corporal Ballard as he sought cover behind a vehicle. The man shot him numerous times, including several times after Corporal Ballard fell to the ground. Responding Troopers apprehended one of the subjects at the scene. The second subject fled to his home where he barricaded himself inside. After a long standoff, the subject exited his home and opened fire on troopers, who returned fire killing him.
Corporal Ballard had served with the Delaware State Police for 8-1/2 years and was assigned to Troop 2, Glasgow. He was appointed to the Delaware State Police on October 31, 2008 graduating from the 80th Academy Class and stationed at Troop 4, Georgetown. Cpl/1 Ballard was later transferred to Troop 3, Camden and then Troop 2, Glasgow. He was a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; and the Delaware State Police Conflict Management Team.
Louise Ballard said her husband, a 2003 graduate of Bowie High School in Maryland, initially wanted to be a pilot but became interested in criminal justice in college. After he graduated from Delaware State University in 2007 he returned to mentor students because he wanted them to learn from his experience and stories. Ballard graduated from the Delaware State Police Academy in 2009. He loved his work and wanted the communities he served to have positive interactions with troopers.
According to his wife Louise "He was very interested in getting to know people so he could help them. He had plans to continue moving up in the ranks and always being a part of the DSP family and he wanted to be governor one day. Delaware is his home. He wanted to serve this community until the day he died and that's what he did unfortunately too soon."
He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Louise Lewis Ballard; daughter, Abigail Lewis; parents, Kevin and Robin Ballard; paternal grandmother, Ruth Noble; mother-in-law, Sharon Cummings; 5 aunts, 2 uncles, his Delaware State Police family; other extended family members, and friends.
On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, Corporal/1 Stephen J. Ballard, 32, was tragically shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle at a Wawa gas station on Pulaski Highway and Salem Church Road, in Bear, Delaware. He made contact with two people he observed in the vehicle, at which point one of the men began struggling with him. The man pushed Corporal Ballard away from him and began to run. After taking several steps he turned around and opened fire on Corporal Ballard, wounding him. The man then chased Corporal Ballard as he sought cover behind a vehicle. The man shot him numerous times, including several times after Corporal Ballard fell to the ground. Responding Troopers apprehended one of the subjects at the scene. The second subject fled to his home where he barricaded himself inside. After a long standoff, the subject exited his home and opened fire on troopers, who returned fire killing him.
Corporal Ballard had served with the Delaware State Police for 8-1/2 years and was assigned to Troop 2, Glasgow. He was appointed to the Delaware State Police on October 31, 2008 graduating from the 80th Academy Class and stationed at Troop 4, Georgetown. Cpl/1 Ballard was later transferred to Troop 3, Camden and then Troop 2, Glasgow. He was a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; and the Delaware State Police Conflict Management Team.
Louise Ballard said her husband, a 2003 graduate of Bowie High School in Maryland, initially wanted to be a pilot but became interested in criminal justice in college. After he graduated from Delaware State University in 2007 he returned to mentor students because he wanted them to learn from his experience and stories. Ballard graduated from the Delaware State Police Academy in 2009. He loved his work and wanted the communities he served to have positive interactions with troopers.
According to his wife Louise "He was very interested in getting to know people so he could help them. He had plans to continue moving up in the ranks and always being a part of the DSP family and he wanted to be governor one day. Delaware is his home. He wanted to serve this community until the day he died and that's what he did unfortunately too soon."
He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Louise Lewis Ballard; daughter, Abigail Lewis; parents, Kevin and Robin Ballard; paternal grandmother, Ruth Noble; mother-in-law, Sharon Cummings; 5 aunts, 2 uncles, his Delaware State Police family; other extended family members, and friends.
Delaware State Trooper murdered in the line of duty.
On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, Corporal/1 Stephen J. Ballard, 32, was tragically shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle at a Wawa gas station on Pulaski Highway and Salem Church Road, in Bear, Delaware. He made contact with two people he observed in the vehicle, at which point one of the men began struggling with him. The man pushed Corporal Ballard away from him and began to run. After taking several steps he turned around and opened fire on Corporal Ballard, wounding him. The man then chased Corporal Ballard as he sought cover behind a vehicle. The man shot him numerous times, including several times after Corporal Ballard fell to the ground. Responding Troopers apprehended one of the subjects at the scene. The second subject fled to his home where he barricaded himself inside. After a long standoff, the subject exited his home and opened fire on troopers, who returned fire killing him.
Corporal Ballard had served with the Delaware State Police for 8-1/2 years and was assigned to Troop 2, Glasgow. He was appointed to the Delaware State Police on October 31, 2008 graduating from the 80th Academy Class and stationed at Troop 4, Georgetown. Cpl/1 Ballard was later transferred to Troop 3, Camden and then Troop 2, Glasgow. He was a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; and the Delaware State Police Conflict Management Team.
Louise Ballard said her husband, a 2003 graduate of Bowie High School in Maryland, initially wanted to be a pilot but became interested in criminal justice in college. After he graduated from Delaware State University in 2007 he returned to mentor students because he wanted them to learn from his experience and stories. Ballard graduated from the Delaware State Police Academy in 2009. He loved his work and wanted the communities he served to have positive interactions with troopers.
According to his wife Louise "He was very interested in getting to know people so he could help them. He had plans to continue moving up in the ranks and always being a part of the DSP family and he wanted to be governor one day. Delaware is his home. He wanted to serve this community until the day he died and that's what he did unfortunately too soon."
He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Louise Lewis Ballard; daughter, Abigail Lewis; parents, Kevin and Robin Ballard; paternal grandmother, Ruth Noble; mother-in-law, Sharon Cummings; 5 aunts, 2 uncles, his Delaware State Police family; other extended family members, and friends.
On Wednesday, April 26, 2017, Corporal/1 Stephen J. Ballard, 32, was tragically shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle at a Wawa gas station on Pulaski Highway and Salem Church Road, in Bear, Delaware. He made contact with two people he observed in the vehicle, at which point one of the men began struggling with him. The man pushed Corporal Ballard away from him and began to run. After taking several steps he turned around and opened fire on Corporal Ballard, wounding him. The man then chased Corporal Ballard as he sought cover behind a vehicle. The man shot him numerous times, including several times after Corporal Ballard fell to the ground. Responding Troopers apprehended one of the subjects at the scene. The second subject fled to his home where he barricaded himself inside. After a long standoff, the subject exited his home and opened fire on troopers, who returned fire killing him.
Corporal Ballard had served with the Delaware State Police for 8-1/2 years and was assigned to Troop 2, Glasgow. He was appointed to the Delaware State Police on October 31, 2008 graduating from the 80th Academy Class and stationed at Troop 4, Georgetown. Cpl/1 Ballard was later transferred to Troop 3, Camden and then Troop 2, Glasgow. He was a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; and the Delaware State Police Conflict Management Team.
Louise Ballard said her husband, a 2003 graduate of Bowie High School in Maryland, initially wanted to be a pilot but became interested in criminal justice in college. After he graduated from Delaware State University in 2007 he returned to mentor students because he wanted them to learn from his experience and stories. Ballard graduated from the Delaware State Police Academy in 2009. He loved his work and wanted the communities he served to have positive interactions with troopers.
According to his wife Louise "He was very interested in getting to know people so he could help them. He had plans to continue moving up in the ranks and always being a part of the DSP family and he wanted to be governor one day. Delaware is his home. He wanted to serve this community until the day he died and that's what he did unfortunately too soon."
He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Louise Lewis Ballard; daughter, Abigail Lewis; parents, Kevin and Robin Ballard; paternal grandmother, Ruth Noble; mother-in-law, Sharon Cummings; 5 aunts, 2 uncles, his Delaware State Police family; other extended family members, and friends.
