Thursday Morning Keynote Speaker

Paul G. Shavack

Chief of Staff Delaware Department of Correction

Paul G. Shavack serves as Chief of Staff for the Delaware Department of Correction, where he provides executive-level leadership and strategic coordination across the agency. In this role, he advises the Commissioner on policy and program development, oversees legislative and public information functions, and facilitates partnerships with state agencies and external stakeholders to advance key initiatives.

Chief Shavack joined the Department of Correction in 2017 following a distinguished 26-year career with the Delaware State Police. He began his law enforcement career as a Trooper assigned to Troop 1 and later served as a Trooper Paramedic with the Aviation Section, as well as a Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Medic. He advanced through the ranks within the Aviation Section, earning promotion to Sergeant in 2000 and serving as Trooper Medic Commander.

Over the course of his State Police career, Chief Shavack held several critical leadership positions, including, Trooper Medic Commander, Troop 2 Shift Commander, New Castle County Governor’s Task Force Commander, and Director of Public Information at State Police Headquarters.

Since joining the Department of Correction, he has held progressively senior leadership roles, including Training Administrator, Director of Training, and Deputy Bureau Chief of Prisons, where he also served as the Bureau’s Public Information Officer. In 2021, he assumed additional responsibilities as the Department’s Legislative Liaison.

In addition to his public safety career, Mr. Shavack served more than 20 years in the Delaware Air National Guard as a First Sergeant. His military service included deployments in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Shula Dragon. He retired in 2004 at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant.

Chief Richard P. McCabe

Chief, New Castle City Police Department

President, Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police

IACP-SACOP Division Represnentative for Delaware

SACOP Chair-North Atlantic Region

Chief Richard P. McCabe serves as the Chief of Police for the City of New Castle, Delaware, bringing nearly three decades of law enforcement experience to the role. As the executive leader of a historic municipal agency, he is responsible for strategic planning, policy development, personnel management, and community engagement initiatives that prioritize professionalism, accountability, and public trust.

Chief McCabe began his public service career in the United States Coast Guard where he graduated from the 41-foot Utility Boat (UTB) School and the 44-foot National Motor Lifeboat School (NMLBS), earning advanced training in maritime operations and heavy weather response.

Following his military service, Chief McCabe transitioned into municipal law enforcement, where he has held positions across patrol, investigations, and supervisory assignments, gaining operational experience in criminal investigations, organizational leadership, and interagency coordination. His leadership style emphasizes data-driven decision-making, officer wellness, and procedural consistency.

In addition to his local responsibilities, Chief McCabe currently serves as President of the Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police, as a member of the Police Officer Standardization and Training Commission (POST) and as vice-chair of the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission. In these roles, he has been actively involved in advancing statewide accreditation standards and implementing best practices following the passage of landmark policing reform legislation. He has worked collaboratively with state and municipal partners to strengthen policy development, modernize recruitment efforts, and reinforce professional standards across Delaware law enforcement agencies.

Chief McCabe remains committed to principled leadership, continuous improvement, and fostering strong partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Michael Gallagher

Executive Director, Delaware Crime Stoppers

Michael Gallagher is the Executive Director of Delaware Crime Stoppers, a statewide nonprofit organization that partners with law enforcement agencies and communities to support anonymous crime reporting, criminal investigations, and public safety initiatives throughout Delaware. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded community outreach, strengthened interagency collaboration, and supported investigations involving violent crime, narcotics trafficking, illegal weapons, fugitives, and homicide cases. His work focuses on community intelligence systems, public trust, anonymous digital reporting, crisis communication, and modern approaches to public safety coordination. In addition to his public safety work, Michael has experience in organizational leadership, operational systems development, and large-scale network growth, bringing a practitioner-oriented perspective to discussions surrounding criminal justice reform and technology-driven public safety innovation.