UPDATE: Former Ridgely Police Officer Indicted on 7 Counts of Rape

William Paskey Mugshot

UPDATE: The Delaware Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted a former police officer on seven counts of second degree rape. 

Thirty-four-year-old William Paskey, of Harrington, was indicted by a Delaware Superior Court grand jury on Sept. 7. The indictment follows an investigation by the Delaware State Police Troop 3, whose leadership contacted the DOJ after allegations of sexual assault by Paskey were brought to their attention.

“It is simply not possible to overstate how shocking these allegations are, let alone against someone who has been entrusted by the people of this state to keep them safe,” Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “I’m grateful to the Delaware State Police for their thorough investigative work here; we will work to ensure that justice is done.”

Per the indictment, Paskey raped at least seven victims between 2014 and 2025. Multiple incidents occurred after he met the victims on various dating apps. In some of the incidents, Paskey invited victims to his residence in Felton, where the sexual assaults are alleged to have occurred. Paskey was employed as a law enforcement officer at several different agencies in both Delaware and Maryland during the timeframe alleged in the indictment. 

The DOJ says they have reason to believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information or who may be a victim is asked to contact DSP Sergeant P. Taylor at (302) 698-8547.

 

FELTON, Del. – The Delaware State Police (DSP) have arrested a former Delaware and Maryland police officer for rape following a sexual assault investigation.

Police arrested 33-year-old William Paskey of Harrington on one count of second degree rape. He has since been arraigned and released after posting a $20,000 secured bond.

Paskey is a former Delaware police officer who, between 2014 and 2021, was employed by various departments, including the Dagsboro, Ellendale, and Blades Police Departments. Most recently, Paskey was employed as a police officer for the Town of Ridgely Police Department in Maryland.

In May 2025, the DSP Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit began investigating a sexual assault allegation against Paskey. Detectives learned that in Sept. 2022, Paskey met a female victim on a dating app and invited her to his residence in Felton. The victim reported that during the date, Paskey became aggressive and engaged in nonconsensual sexual acts with her, refusing her multiple requests to stop.

DSP says Paskey was employed as a law enforcement officer at the time of the incident, but was not on duty.

After consulting with the Delaware Department of Justice, a warrant for Paskey’s arrest was obtained, and he was taken into custody on Tuesday, May 5, without incident.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims and ask anyone with information or who may be a victim to please contact Sergeant P. Taylor by calling (302) 698-8547.  Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police(Opens in a new window.) or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers(Opens in a new window.) at (800) 847-3333.

This article was originally published on May 8 at 3:32 p.m. 

Categories: Crime, Delaware, Local News, Maryland, Top Stories