Delaware State Police, Delaware
End of Watch: Tuesday, September 7, 1993
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 11 years
Badge Number: 396
Cause of Death: Duty related illness
Date of Incident: January 14, 1981
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Corporal Bell died after contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion received following a line of duty injury.
On January 14, 1981, Corporal Bell was assisting another trooper during a struggle with a suicidal man on Kirkwood Highway. During the struggle, Corporal Bell received a severe back injury, which required surgery and a blood transfusion. The blood he received during the surgery was tainted with AIDS, which Corporal Bell then contracted. The blood was traced to the original donor, who was confirmed to be suffering from the virus as well.
Corporal Bell was a United States Marine Corps Reserve veteran and had served with the Delaware State Police for 11 years. He was survived by his wife, three sons, a daughter, three sisters, and five grandsons.