Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal Paul Sweeney succumbed to injuries and burns received one month earlier when his patrol car was struck from behind and burst into flames. Corporal Sweeney was driving on Concord Pike, near Independence Mall, when the accident occurred. The 16-year-old driver of the vehicle that struck Corporal Sweeney's patrol car was charged with reckless driving but the charge was upgraded to manslaughter when the officer passed away. Corporal Sweeney had served with the New Castle County Police Department for 4 years and was posthumously promoted to rank of of Corporal. He is survived by his wife and two children. In 2006 the new New Castle County Police Department's new headquarters building was named in Corporal Sweeney's honor.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DE-65F045BA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal Sweeney gave the New Castle County Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Castle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Sweeney.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Paul John Sweeney is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DE, 19 of 51 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.3 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At New Castle County Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul John Sweeney's cause is highlighted.
How Paul John Sweeney Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Paul John Sweeney is highlighted in Nov.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from New Castle County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
