Delmar remembers Cpl. Heacook two years after tragic loss

DELMAR, Del. – It’s been two years since Delmar Police Corporal Keith Heacook went out to answer a burglary and assault call, and never made it home alive. That night served as a wakeup call for Delmar. And, the weeks that followed only proved how resilient one small community can be.

Keith Heacook

“He was just the kind of guy, when he walked into the room, the atmosphere of the room changed. He brought a positive light onto things,” said Delmar, Maryland Mayor Ben Jorden.

Delmar Police Chief Ivan Barkley says he got to experience that light every day. “He was a father, a brother, a son, a friend,” said Chief Barkley. “We [would] talk about work. But, we [would] also talk about our personal lives, and what’s going on in them, and how things are going.

The ultimate family man, Cpl. Heacook did everything he could to support his loved ones. “Keith was contemplating retiring from the PD here, to join the force over at SU, so that he could put his son through college,” said Chief Barkley.

April 25th, 2021

April 25th 2021 is a night that Delmar residents won’t soon forget. It was the night that Cpl. Heacook answered the call for service that would ultimately take his life.

“Because we’re not as busy as Salisbury, or Dover, sometimes you take things for granted. That brought us to the reality that we cannot take things for granted,” said Chief Barkley.

Chief Barkley says losing Cpl. Heacook was not only devastating for the department, it was, too, for him; losing Keith was like losing a son.

“You lose that individual, and to lose that individual in the way that we lost Keith is devastating,” said Chief Barkley.

Beyond that, Cpl. Heacook’s death served as a wake-up call for the small agency.

Little Town, Big Heart

In the days and weeks that followed Cpl. Heacook’s death, Delmar showed out in a big way to support its police department, and each other.

“Too often, we hear about communities that are fed up and irate with law enforcement, for whatever reason. And, we didn’t feel that at all,” said Chief Barkley. “They kind of propped us up, and pushed us forward – willed us forward. They did what they had to do as a community to, honestly, get us where we are today.”

But, it wasn’t just Delmar that rallied its love; support from all over the country poured in, says Chief Barkley. And every day, he’s still reminded of that support; whether it be a quick “Thank you” in the Food Lion parking lot, or letters of support from outside the Delmarva Peninsula.

“We have our moments, you could say, where we reflect on the good and the bad. And, then we acknowledge the fact that what Keith would have wanted was for us to keep moving forward,” he said.

Heacook Fest

One of the ways that Delmar has found to help them along with the healing process, is celebrating Cpl. Heacook’s life. That would include Heacook Fest, which is this Sunday, April 30th.

“It’s a time that we’re able to take to celebrate Keith’s life. It’s very easy to be down about it, because it is a tragic thing that happened to us. But, we’re able to honor Keith, his life, and sacrifice, and honor his family,” said Mayor Jorden. “What Keith would probably want is that people stand up for what’s right; people in the community and wherever you’re at, that you get involved.”

The event will benefit Operation We Care, Tunnel to Towers, and Behind the Line. They’ll be raising money to bolster scholarships, and the event will feature live performances by Jimmy Charles, LOCASH, and Wyes Guys. It kicks off at noon at Kylen Barn. Purchase tickets here.

Moving Forward, Together

Though the loss rocked Delmar to its core, says Mayor Jorden, it also strengthened its sense of togetherness. Mayor Jorden is now renewing the call to support men and women in blue.

“[Losing Keith] just brings a form of unity that kind of builds a bond that you can’t really break,” said Mayor Jorden. “It’s easy for us, the people that are sitting home, to come against police officers. It’s easy to assume certain things. But, I would just challenge everybody to go out of your way to get involved. These guys and women are going through a lot. They need our support outside and in the department.”

Chief Barkley says Cpl. Heacook’s death did bring significant change in his department; for the first time in his eight-year tenure, Chief Barkley says the agency is fully-staffed. Cpl. Heacook would have been elated to hear that, says Chief Barkley.

But, he adds, the healing process isn’t yet complete; like a bone that’s been broken, healing also means becoming stronger, and staying vigilant.

“It’s not over. We still got a ways to go, not just as an agency, not just as a town, but as a community,” said Chief Barkley. “A lot of people think we’re in these small communities, and we’re kind of immune from the day-to-day violence that we see on the 6 o’clock [news]. We’re not. Pay attention. That doesn’t mean you’ve got to live in a shell. But, be smart.”