NEWS

Delaware says goodbye to Cpl. Stephen Ballard

Brittany Horn, Esteban Parra, and Jessica Masulli Reyes
The News Journal
State Troopers begin to line up for the funeral of Cpl. Stephen Ballard at the Chase Center in Wilmington.

State police Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard loved the state of Delaware. And the state showed Friday that it and its residents loved him back.

The show of support was astounding as hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the state and country flooded Wilmington for the services of the state trooper killed in the line of duty last week.

"It was a homegoing service and a celebration of life that Trooper Ballard would be very proud of," said Col. Vaughn Bond, chief of the New Castle County Police Department and a friend of Ballard. "I think he would have been overwhelmed by this show of support."

It began before sunrise when firefighters hoisted a massive American flag between two ladder trucks. Hours later, a mileslong procession shut down I-95 northbound and snaked from the Christiana Mall, beneath that flag, to the Chase Center on the Riverfront.

Once at the Riverfront, hundreds of uniformed officers clad in wet-weather gear stood at attention as Ballard’s coffin, draped in an American flag, was carried inside. The clear sound of pipes and drums broke through the heavy pitter-patter of rain and silence of the mourners.

Thousands – family, friends, law enforcement officers, community members and state leaders, including former Vice President Joe Biden – paid their respects during the private visitation and celebration of life service that stretched from 8:30 a.m. well into the afternoon. State police agencies from 36 other states made the trip to Wilmington, along with dozens of other agencies from around the region.

As Ballard’s body was transported to its final resting place at the Gracelawn Cemetery near New Castle, adults and children lined both sides of U.S. 13. They waved American flags and signs saying "God Bless Delaware State Troopers" as the hearse passed. An estimated 200 K-9 officers and their partners stood at attention as his procession passed.

Gracie Riccio, 8, of New Castle, holds up a rest in peace sign as she waits along N. Du Pont Highway for the procession to arrive at Gracelawn Cemetery.

Kathy Toner, 29, of New Castle, attended the visitation to pay her respects to Ballard and his family, even though she knew neither.

"It just blows my mind to see everybody really supporting his family, him and law enforcement," said Toner, who took off from work to attend. "Seeing all these cops just standing out here in the rain, marching in is amazing."

Ballard was gunned down last week in a Bear-area Wawa parking lot when he approached a suspicious vehicle and the passenger jumped out and began firing at him. The shooter continued to fire rounds into the trooper before fleeing to his family’s Middletown-area home, where, following a standoff, he was shot dead by police 21 hours later.

The 32-year-old trooper has been lauded in the days after his death as a proactive police officer, loving father and husband, and a man willing to help anyone in need.

His mother, Robin Ballard, told The News Journal that she tried for years to get her son to move home to Maryland. His response was always the same: “I love Delaware, and I’m not leaving.”

Now, he’ll forever be remembered by the Delawareans he stuck by and served.

The body of  fallen Delaware State Police Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard is carried into the Chase Center on the Riverfront for A  Celebration of Life Service.

An estimated 1,500 officers, along with hundreds of community members and local officials, attended the ceremonies at the Riverfront to say goodbye to Ballard.

In Lt. Thomas Brackin's more than two decades of policing, he said he had never seen such an overwhelming display of solidarity from police officers.

"It was one of the most amazing ways of sending a trooper home," said the president of the Delaware State Troopers Association, his eyes welling with tears.

In the days since Ballard's death, the community has rallied around the law enforcement community, accumulating tens of thousands of dollars for Ballard's family and putting blue lines on the backs of their vehicles. Local law enforcement covered all Delaware State Police calls for service Friday so troopers could attend the services.

Almost a dozen members of the Delaware Patriot Guard braved the pouring rain to stand along Justison Street with flags waving as the hearse passed early Friday morning.

"The troopers work in the rain," said Dan Kapitanic, state captain of the Delaware Patriot Guard.

The same went for police who lined up hours before they were allowed into the Chase Center to pay their respects.

The New Jersey State Police had a large contingent who waited in long blue coats, while members of the state Department of Correction stood soaked to the bone in short-sleeved blue uniform shirts. Uniformed personnel waited until all community members had passed through before entering.

Luis Hernandez, from the New Mexico State Police, said he came to the service to honor the family and the law enforcement community. The service was private for friends, family and invited law enforcement officials.

“It's important to be here and share the pain that the law enforcement community is going through," he said.

Fallen Delaware State Police trooper Cpl. Stephen Ballard is carried by fellow troopers during his services.

"I just had to be here to show these officers that we are in full support of them," said Kimberly Miller after exiting the visitation services. "It was just so wonderful to see all those men and women in blue come out to show their support."

While en route to the services early Friday morning, a Dover officer on police motorcycle suffered a broken leg in a crash along Del. 1 while riding in the procession.

Ballard had worked downstate for most of his career as a trooper but transferred about 1½ years ago to Troop 2 in Glasgow, just miles from where he was killed. He and his wife, Louise, married on Nov. 15, 2015, and moved to Hockessin, where they lived with their daughter, Abigail.

During Ballard's time with the Delaware State Police, he mentored college students through the Delaware State University collegiate chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, or NOBLE, and worked extensively with Delaware youth at Camp Barnes, a free summer camp run by Delaware State Police for underserved children.

His dedication earned him two superintendent accommodations and two lifesaving awards.

"He wanted to help people in the best way," Louise Ballard said. "Out of the kindness of his heart, if he wanted to help someone, he would do that. Personally, that was his nature; it's who he was."

FULL COVERAGE: Cpl. Stephen J. Ballard

WHAT HAPPENED: Standoff ends; suspect in Delaware trooper death killed

WHO HE WAS: Slain trooper's mother says he loved Delaware

Other Delawareans watched the procession from the Churchmans Road overpass early Friday. Gary Sterner of New Castle expressed what many were thinking.

"Sad day," he said. "Real sad. It touches you."

Members of Delaware’s Jeep community stood in the 4000 block of N. Du Pont Highway. Some saluted, while others held American flags as Ballard’s hearse and motorcade drove by.

“I couldn’t imagine not being out here supporting these families and showing them that we actually care,” said Aubrey Coulter, who drove from Felton to show her support.

Mike Rodriguez, of Newport, said he felt a duty to honor first responders, such as Ballard.

“I feel this is the least we could do for a person who sacrificed his life,” Rodriguez said.

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn. Contact Jessica Masulli Reyes at (302) 324-2777, jmreyes@delawareonline.com or Twitter @jessicamasulli. Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299, eparra@delawareonline.com or Twitter @eparra3.

How to donate

Those looking to support the Ballard family can donate to the memorial fund set up through the Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union. Checks can be made out to the DSTA-Stephen Ballard Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 168, Cheswold, DE 19936. Donations can also be made at any Delaware Wawa through Sunday.