DOVER, Del. - A suspended Delaware State Police trooper has been indicted on four counts of official misconduct after he allegedly used his authority to engage in inappropriate sexual contact with a 21-year-old woman experiencing a mental health crisis, according to the Delaware Department of Justice.
Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Wednesday that the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust secured the indictment against Thomas Catalfamo following an investigation into the alleged misconduct.
According to the DOJ, Catalfamo responded to a service call on July 13, 2025, involving the woman experiencing a mental health crisis. Prosecutors say he influenced the woman's assessment at Beebe Healthcare so she would be released into his care.
The DOJ says that while transporting the woman from the hospital to her residence, Catalfamo stopped his patrol car, manipulated his body-worn camera and the car's mobile video recording system to conceal his actions, and engaged in sexual contact with the woman.
The Justice Department said Delaware State Police leadership contacted the Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust in October 2025 after allegations of misconduct involving Catalfamo were brought to the agency's attention. According to the DOJ, Delaware State Police have cooperated with the investigation since it began.
"Public safety requires public trust. The community needs to be able to trust that law enforcement will protect them when they call for help," Jennings said in a statement. "When those in positions of authority take advantage of those individuals in crisis, that trust is broken; this indictment is an important step in repairing it."
Delaware State Police Superintendent Col. William D. Crotty said the agency immediately suspended Catalfamo after learning of the allegations and referred the matter to the Department of Justice.
"The Delaware State Police treats all allegations of misconduct with the utmost seriousness, whether received from the public or identified through our internal reviews," Crotty said in a statement. "We remain committed to holding ourselves to the highest standards."
The Department of Justice reminded the public that the charges are allegations and that Catalfamo is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
