Seaford council approves MOU allowing police chief to join Sussex County SPEAR team

At a meeting that reopened at 9:03 p.m., the Seaford City Council voted to approve execution of a memorandum of understanding authorizing the city police chief and deputy chief to sign on to the Sussex County Multi Agency Tactical Response Team agreement, known as the SPEAR team.

Vice Mayor Dan Henderson moved “to approve the execution of a memorandum of understanding by Chief Craft and Deputy Chief, pursuant to the discussion and executive session for the SPEAR team, Sussex County Multi Agency Tactical Response Team agreement,” and Councilwoman Grass seconded the motion. The mayor called for the vote and recorded both affirmative and opposing responses from the dais; the transcript does not include a numeric tally for that vote but indicates the motion passed.

The memorandum of understanding will permit Seaford’s police leadership to participate in a multi-jurisdictional tactical response arrangement overseen at the county level; the document in the record will be executed by Chief Craft and the deputy chief, according to the motion. The council moved the item directly after an executive-session discussion; no further details of that closed session appear in the public record excerpts provided to the council during the meeting.

After completing the SPEAR agreement item, Councilman Alan Quillen moved to adjourn the meeting; Councilman Orlando Holland seconded. The council voted and the chair declared the motion “passes unanimously.” The mayor then closed the meeting.

The transcript does not specify the effective date of the MOU, the precise duties to be undertaken by Seaford personnel under the agreement, or the vote tally for the SPEAR motion; those items were either decided in executive session or not recorded in the public segment of the transcript.