Public Safety

After 24 years, Bond said he still feels being a police officer offers the best opportunity and platform to make a difference in the community. Through his fraternity, he is part of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and community outreach programs such as Thanksgiving Adopt-a-Family and the Christmas Adopt-a-Family initiative, where families in need are aided during the holiday season with food, clothing and gifts.

Those programs now help upwards of 150 families. It’s one of the many instances where he looks to continue bridging the gap that exists between law enforcement and citizens.

“The basic policing model has still remained the same, and that is to go out and provide the quality service to the men and women and to the citizens of New Castle County,” Bond said.

As a police officer, Bond said they have the power to influence a situation as well as show compassion to individuals in need, which he feels is paramount in the wake of elevated tension between citizens and police. He hopes his work in the community will strengthen the message that the police seek to advance community relations, not diminish it.

Equally important to Bond is sharing his knowledge with young officers. While Bond says there is no official mentoring program, he believes everyday communication is pivotal.

“He is a leader by example and a mentor to junior officers by choice,” said Col. Elmer Setting.

“I think the longer that you are on a job where you get the education and the knowledge, you understand what it takes to be successful, and anytime you have an opportunity to share the information, especially someone who is new, to help them navigate through those first few years on the Police Department, then you should,” Bond said.

Bond attributes this attitude to Bryant.

“I saw the way he took me under his wing and several other people and he showed us, 'This is what you need to do,'" Bond said. "I didn’t look at him at the time like ‘this is a mentor,’ but when I look back on it, when I look back at what he did and how he has always taken time, to this day, to educate me on what to do and what not to do and how to handle certain situations, I think that that goes a long way and for me. I try and do the same thing."

The announcement of Bond's promotion came at the New Castle County Police Academy graduation and caught him by surprise, stating that since he has been with the department, no promotions had been announced during the ceremony. After an initial reaction of nervousness, he recalled, "my knees were shaking." It was the gathering in the New Castle County headquarters conference room renamed in Cpl. Snow's honor that brought his achievement and his career in law enforcement full circle.

Bond remains grateful for the opportunity given to him decades ago. He’s appreciative of his parents, his family and all of the relationships he’s made along the way, and he attributes all the success he’s achieved in the department to those who helped him in his career.

“I’m humbled by it,” Bond said of the promotion. “[And] I really hope that it serves as an inspiration to others that with hard work, surrounding yourself with good people [and] being disciplined, that you can achieve what you set out to do. And I know that sounds cliché, but the fact of the matter is, that’s what it takes.”

Contact Alonzo Small at (302) 324-2856 or asmall@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @P_AlonzoSmall.