In February 2024, Milford Police Chief Cecilia Ashe received an exemplary evaluation from Milford City Council. Upon that evaluation, an addendum was issued, signed by then-Mayor Archie Campbell and Ashe, approved by council at the February 12, 2024, meeting, to eliminate a requirement that Milford’s Chief of Police live in the city. Ashe was hired in February 2023.
“Within 12 months of the Effective Date of this Agreement, the Employee must relocate and establish residency and thereafter continuously reside for the term of her employment, either (a) within the City limits or, (be)subject to the prior approval of the City Council, outside City limits, but within a 15-minute commute from the police station,” the original contract read. “The City will reimburse the Employee up to $5,000 for moving expenses for relocation pursuant to this Section. As used in this Section, “residency” and “reside” refers to a place of bona fid continuous habitation. Employee agrees that failure to comply with the residency requirements provided for in this Section is a material breach of contract and constitutes just cause for termination of employment by the City.”
When the addendum was approved by council, the clause simply read “The Employee shall continuously reside in the State of Delaware for the term of her employment.”
When she was hired, Ashe stated that she had owned a home in Sussex County for over 15 years and it had always been her plan to move further down the state and come closer to the beaches.
“I don’t get to spend much time at my house down here,” Ashe said in a 2023 interview. “I am really looking forward to a different chapter in my career and moving down to an agency here in Milford which is one of the largest police agencies here in Sussex. It is just an awesome opportunity.”
Mayor Todd Culotta, who was a Ward 2 councilman when the change to the contract was approved, felt the change was warranted based on Ashe’s performance.
“Our police chief has for the last 19 years owned homes in both Sussex County and New Castle County,” Culotta said. “During her performance review, the Mayor and Council made a reasonable requirement that her residence remain in the state of Delaware. She is in compliance with that contract.”
Culotta continued.
‘As Mayor, I have made public safety a primary focus. I am beyond happy with the performance of Chief Ashe. She is the type of police leader we want and need in Milford,” Culotta said. “She demonstrates her actions, has a focus on community engagement, service and commitment. She leads by example, which has become contagious at every level in the department. Her residence has had no negative impact with her performance or those of her officers. I am approached by citizens regularly that our decision to hire CC Ashe as our chief was a great one and they are very satisfied.”
A review of city code indicates that there is no requirement for the police chief to reside within city limits, although, historically, that has been required. The only employee required to live in city limits under code is the City Manager and there is a clause that allows council to approve someone in that position to live outside city limits as well. According to Culotta, the chief lives in the Millsboro area.
