Samphire hoe near dover uk with a view accross the english channel.
Samphire Hoe near Dover Uk with a view accross the english channel.

Delaware police dispatchers help in boat rescue in the English Channel

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1 min read
September 15, 2024

DOVER, DE – In a mix-up that sounds straight out of a comedy of errors, police dispatchers in Dover, Delaware, found themselves playing an unexpected role in an international rescue operation last month. On August 27, an Albanian man frantically called for help after learning that his brother’s boat was sinking in the English Channel.

There was just one problem—he thought he was dialing emergency services in Dover, England, but ended up connecting with the Dover Police Department across the pond in Delaware, USA.

The man, in a rush to get help, had done a quick internet search for the “Dover Police Department” and didn’t realize his call had landed him over 3,500 miles away from where his brother’s boat was foundering.

But despite the geographical confusion, the dispatchers in Delaware sprang into action, coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard to make sure the message got through to the correct authorities in England.

Thanks to the quick thinking of these dispatchers, the boat in distress was successfully located and rescued. Delaware police officials praised their team for their efforts, saying,

“The family member thought they were calling Dover, England but was connected with our agency here in the United States.” While it may have been a mix-up, it turned into a story of teamwork across continents—and one more reason to double-check those Google search results!

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

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