COLLINGDALE, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Collingdale, Delaware County police officer resigned on Thursday just days after he was sworn in, another blow to the borough police department that has been in desperate need of more officers. The ex-officer is facing new charges in connection with a road rage incident from 2023.
Kevon Darden, 28, is charged with simple assault, harassment, making terroristic threats, and other offenses, according to court documents.
During an April 2023 incident on I-476 in Delaware County, Darden pointed a gun at a dump truck driver, authorities said in the criminal complaint. Darden was a Cheyney University police officer at the time. When interviewed by police, he denied using his weapon.
Darden told NBC10 that he is in the process of seeking legal counsel to fight the allegations.
Darden officially joined the Collingdale Borough Police Department during an emergency swearing-in ceremony on Sunday. The borough’s already depleted police force faced a “series of unusual callouts” last weekend and officers were unavailable to fill in on overtime, according to borough Manager C. Michael Robinson.
Darden’s tenure was over in a matter of days. Robinson was caught off guard.
“We started to receive reports about Mr. Darden’s alleged criminal activity or behavior. That information was found unsubstantiated twice. In fact, our chief ran his background twice,” Robinson told NBC10.
"This is the question we have: Why did you not provide us this information prior?” he asked. “It’s very clear that people in the District Attorney’s Office and possibly the State Police knew exactly what they were going to provide us.”
Robinson questions the timing of the charges and wonders if there was a racial element, as this was the second time in a matter of months that allegations against a Black male officer affected their employment with the borough.
In September, community members and the Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police protested the potential hiring of Rhaheem Blanden as police chief after word got out that the county was investigating an incident during his time as a Chester police officer. The borough council ended up approving Shanee Mitchell for the position instead.
A Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson said charges against Darden weren’t filed until this week because forensic evidence took a while to process at the lab and those delays held up the investigation. Plus, input was needed from the District Attorney’s Office. State Police had no comment on Collingdale’s hiring process.
Robinson has concerns for the community, which only has five full-time officers — down from 16 a year ago. Pennsylvania State Police troopers have been helping with coverage.
NBC10 is a broadcast partner of KYW Newsradio.