Laurel Police Chief says there is support for violence reduction efforts

At a recent town meeting, Laurel Police Chief Rob Kracyla offered a hopeful update on the town’s progress in reducing violence and building stronger partnerships to support public safety.

During the Monday, June 16, meeting of Mayor and Council, Chief Kracyla began by highlighting a key meeting on June 6, where he and Mayor Carlos Oliveras met with Operation West Laurel (OWL), a grassroots initiative to end violence in the community. The meeting, held at Mount Zion Church, was attended by Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Vaughn Bond, and other community leaders. The visit included a tour of the town and signaled increased attention and support from state leaders.

“I think it’s important for everyone to know that our voices are being heard in Dover and in the Governor’s office,” Kracyla said. “Hopefully that’s going to have a positive influence.”

Kracyla also commended Mayor Oliveras for his personal involvement in preparing for the “Balling for God” basketball tournament held June 7 on Webb Street. Kracyla noted that on themorning before the event, he saw the mayor up on a ladder with a paintbrush and new nets in hand.

“You’re not going to find too many mayors in Delaware painting a backboard and hangingnnets at 8 a.m.,” he said. “That deserves a shoutout.”

The chief also reported on a productive meeting with Senator Chris Coons’ staff regarding gang violence in Laurel, emphasizing the need for collaboration with both state and federal agencies. “This is not something we’re going to be able to solve by ourselves,” he said. “We have to work together to accomplish that goal.”

Crime statistics presented by Kracyla show encouraging trends. Aggravated assaults have declined from 50 cases in 2023 to just 10 so far in 2025. Simple assaults are also down significantly; with 23 incidents this year compared to 180 in 2023 and 223 in 2024. Homicides have dropped from three in 2023 to none so far this year.

“We’re going to keep pushing the needle and keep making positive results,” Kracyla concluded.

Council members thanked Kracyla for his leadership and praised his ongoing commitment to community engagement and public safety.

Speed bump requests spark discussion at Laurel Council meeting– The issue of speed bumps was discussed during the June 16 meeting of the Laurel Mayor and Council. Town Manager Jamie Smith addressed the matter after referring to a memo included in the council members’ packets. She explained that she, Police Chief Rob Kracyla, and Public Works Director James Foskey had been tasked with reviewing a request from Laurel resident Dana Bolden, for additional speed bumps on 7th Street.

Smith said that the town had received at least three more requests for speed bumps throughout town. “It is our recommendation, based on the number of requests we’re getting, that the three of us work together to come up with a formal recommendation to the Mayor and Council on how we can evaluate these types of situations,” Smith said. “Right now, there’s no reason to either grant or deny a request except that someone asks for it, and we say yay or nay.”

She noted that while DelDOT performs traffic studies for state roads, the town could develop its own smaller, in-house traffic studies through the police department. She clarified that Bolden’s request was not being denied, but rather tabled until the next meeting, when a process could be presented. A motion was made and seconded to officially table the issue.

Mayor Carlos Oliveras asked where the new speed bumps were being considered. Smith responded that there are currently two on 7th Street, one near Elm Street and another near Thompson Street. Bolden is requesting an additional one be placed between them.

Smith also reported receiving requests for speed bumps on 8th Street and Howard Street. She added that there had been informal discussions about Center Street, but no formal request submitted. She noted that the Center Street request was mentioned by a resident who had spoken to a local media outlet.

Councilman Jonathon Kellam reminded the public that the town does not have authority over state-maintained roads and cannot install speed bumps on them without DelDOT approval, which includes paying for a formal traffic study. Smith confirmed that requesting speed bumps on those roads would be “a whole separate process.”

Mayor Oliveras noted that he, too, had received complaints. “I’ve gotten some people concerned on 4th Street as well,” he said. “So, it’s something that we’ll have to investigate.”