Full Notification

The Wilmington Police Department announced today, that after a thorough four-month investigation, a suspended officer has been arrested.

Corporal Thomas R. Oliver, Jr., who has been a member of the department for 11 years, was assigned to the Uniformed Services Division. Oliver has been charged with Rape (Second Degree), Extortion, and Official Misconduct.

The department’s internal investigation revealed that on October 16, 2018, Oliver was on duty, in uniform and driving a marked patrol vehicle in the 700 block of East 9^th Street when he pulled his vehicle alongside a woman and instructed her to sit in the front passenger seat of the patrol vehicle. A statement from the victim alleges that Oliver exposed himself to the woman before indicating that she had an active capias for her arrest and he would let her go if she performed a sexual act on him. The investigation revealed that she performed such an act, and was then allowed by Oliver to leave his vehicle.

“The charges that have been filed are deeply troubling and disheartening,” said Chief Robert J. Tracy. “The charge that one of our officers abused his authority to victimize a member of the public in this manner is sickening.”

Immediately upon the Wilmington Police Department’s receipt of a complaint from the victim, investigators launched a thorough investigation. Oliver was suspended immediately on the date of the complaint. The department worked to secure and preserve all evidence, both on the victim’s person and clothing as well as in the officer’s patrol vehicle. That vehicle was immediately removed from service and processed by the Forensic Services Unit, with genetic materials recovered and sent to an outside lab for processing.

Departmental leadership also promptly notified the Delaware Department of Justice, Attorney General’s Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust, to ensure that state law enforcement leaders and prosecutors were aware of the complaint as well as the prompt investigative measures that were launched by departmental leadership.

“This department took swift action to investigate this matter and ensure that this officer was removed from duty pending our investigation,” said Chief Tracy. “This course of action was important not only for the victim in this case, but also to uphold the integrity of this department and the 314 other public servants who work tirelessly to promote and enhance public safety.”

The Chief emphasized the importance of each and every member of the department working consistently to gain and maintain the public trust.

“Wilmingtonians deserve the best in their law enforcement officers,” said the Chief. “We will not allow the actions of one officer to erode the efforts of the rest of this department, or the progress we have made in building connections with the community.”

Oliver was arraigned on February 12 in Justice of the Peace Court 20 on $66,000 cash-only bail.

Investigators would like anyone who has information on this incident, or Cpl. Oliver, to contact Det. Sgt. Justin Kreysa at (302) 576-3632.