Captain David Insley Jr. Served the citizens of Salisbury and the greater Wicomico County area for 27 years as a career paramedic, firefighter, and fire officer. Hired in the summer of 1990 as an ALS provider for the city’s EMS department, David quickly established himself as a compassionate provider with knowledge and a skillset that offered reassurance to others when he arrived on scene.

In the late 1990s, following a merger of the city’s Fire and EMS departments, David became a firefighter/paramedic and became active in the city’s Underwater Recovery Unit, as well as other special operation rescue teams, including the SFD Hazmat Team and the city’s collaboration with Maryland State Police, the Helicopter Emergency Aerial Team (HEAT). As the years passed, David held a wide range of titles and assignments. He served as paramedic, firefighter, lieutenant, captain, and ultimately became the commander and instructor of the city’s Marine Operations and Dive Team.

In addition to his service to the citizens of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, David responded as one of the “Salisbury Nine” in support of search and rescue efforts in Slidell, Louisiana, and surrounding areas following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In early 2017, David was diagnosed with cancer and was forced into early retirement following a surgical procedure to remove tumors from his chest. Following a brief period of remission, David’s cancer returned in early 2018 and ultimately spread throughout his body. David passed away at home, surrounded by family as well as brothers and sisters from various fire, EMS, and police departments he had worked with in his three decades of public service.

David is remembered fondly as a man with a quick wit and a big heart who loved helping others in their time of need.