Del. officer paralyzed during 1984 helicopter training dies from injury complications

SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. — A former Delaware State Police corporal who was injured in the line of duty in 1984 has died from complications of the injury, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

Corporal Dennis Francis Kelly, 69, was severely injured on May 20, 1984, when he and a colleague were training for helicopter takeoffs, according to the page. While landing a practice flight, the helicopter flipped onto its side.

The other DSP officer was able to climb out of the helicopter and pull Kelly to safety. Kelly was treated for a broken neck, which caused quadriplegia. His death on Dec. 21, 2024, was caused by spinal injury complications, according to the page.

Kelly served with DSP for seven years.He is survived by his wife, daughter and two sisters.

Trending

Retirement Planning & Resources

Mich. county lifts hour restrictions, allowing retired deputies more time to work at sheriff’s office

The change allows retired Bay County employees who work part-time at the sheriff’s office or prosecutor’s office to extend their time on the job without affecting their pensions

October 11, 2026 07:00 AM

Body Camera

NYPD officers reunite with 11-month-old boy they saved from choking

Officers Julio Arias and Caroline Abreau Garcia responded with life-saving care when a Good Samaritan alerted them to a mother in distress and a choking baby

October 11, 2026 08:00 AM

Officer Down

Fla. homicide deputy killed in head-on crash with wrong-way driver

Brevard County Sheriff’s Homicide Agent Kevin Morris, 55, was en route to the scene of a deputy-involved shooting when a wrong-way driver crashed into his vehicle head-on

October 12, 2026 09:29 AM

 · 

Joanna Putman

Artificial Intelligence

AI model submits false tip on Philadelphia Police unsolved homicide case

Claude submitted a form on PhillyUnsolvedMurders.com, a Philadelphia PD site, but its response was filtered out as spam before reaching detectives

October 12, 2026 10:44 AM