Home of the Brave
I had an interview that morning at 10:00 a.m. at the Milford Police Department. The interview was with new police chief, Cecilia Ashe. I got there 15 minutes early.
10:00: No police chief. A nice young man came out to tell me Chief Ashe was out on police business and would be back soon.
10:30: Still no chief. A nice young woman came out to tell me that there was a threat of an active shooter at Milford High. Chief Ashe was on site and should be back in a few minutes. At that point, I didn’t care when she got back. I just wanted to say thanks and shake her hand for exemplifying the police officers I idolized when I was a kid. Brave. Bigger than life. Willing to go the extra mile to serve the community.
As it turned out, the threat wasn’t real, but several schools, including Milford High, were shut down until the police confirmed it. That morning, I learned an important lesson: on every call, in every situation, police willingly go toward the danger, while others go in the opposite direction. We see that over and over again, whether it be 9/11 (now-Chief Ashe was a first responder at the Pentagon) or an active threat in Milford.
Chief Ashe rose through the ranks to get where she is today. Milford’s first female Chief of Police was sworn in in February of this year. She comes from the Wilmington, Delaware, Police Department and has over 27 years of law enforcement experience, including time spent as a police officer in Arlington County, Virginia. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and is currently working on her Master’s degree in Administration of Criminal Justice and Organizational Leadership.
During her stint as a police officer in Wilmington, she was instrumental in a 58 percent reduction in homicides and nearly 30 percent reduction in shooting incidents. This outcome simultaneously increased homicide clearance rates from 12 percent to over 67 percent and reduced citizen complaints against police officers by 22 percent. That’s quite a record!
But who is Chief Ashe? Cecilia Ashe is a woman, a lesbian, and is married with two sons. She may be the boss of a city police force, but her wife is the boss of the home. The chief’s family support gives her the ability to do what she does, knowing all the while that one morning may be the last time they see her. They are her unsung heroes. Her belief in God, country, and family gets her through the worst days; her family gives her the strength to do the best job she can. So does the occasional fishing excursion, but that’s a story for another time!
Her professional goals are very much a reflection of the job she has just taken on. She plans to build an organization that focuses on health and wellness, and promoting transparency between police and community. She hopes to embrace the community by talking to kids and parents, empathizing with their problems and concerns. The chief says, “It is progressive and forward thinking here. This is an opportunity not to be missed.”
On a more personal note, knowing that one shift can be the last, she wants to take care of her officers. Knowing the toll that the heavy responsibilities of this work can take on her officers, she hopes to help them remain centered and mentally healthy. One of her darkest moments as a police officer was losing a colleague to suicide. “He was a great cop. They see the worst of the worst; how do we protect them? One way is to stop dehumanizing them. They want Milford to be a safe, friendly place to live.”
A long-time Millsboro resident, Chief Ashe plans on moving to Milford so she can intertwine with the community. She feels that being a member of her new community will help her understand the needs and concerns of the people who live there.
In Wilmington, Chief Ashe supported the gay community. She says “that’s the other side of policing…diversity of thought. People tend to underestimate minorities. You can change that by listening to all and looking inside to your own reactions. Diversity provides structure and leadership.”
The chief points out that for every bad action there are thousands of good ones. But police and their actions must be held accountable. She went on to say, “officers are not perfect, but must operate with honesty and transparency. People want and need to see it.”
As a police officer, actions can have a positive impact or a negative one. If officers do the job with respect and professionalism, the people they protect will give that respect back. You can bet that Chief Ashe will marshal a police force that understands that and will sit with people, understand them, and most importantly, listen.
11:10 a.m.: I get to meet Chief Ashe. And shake her hand. Thanks, Chief. ▼
Michael Gilles is a playwright, actor, and director from Milton, and a regular contributor to Letters from CAMP Rehoboth.