Officer and Roommate Celebrate 20 Years w/Champagne Brunch

By Buzz Gulliver | BoardWalk Barker | REHOBOTH BEACH, DE

Local law enforcement veteran Officer Todd Kelner and his longtime roommate Bradley “Brad” Dempsey marked a major milestone this weekend: twenty years of what both men insist is an entirely heterosexual cohabitation.

The pair, who share a two-bedroom condo off Rehoboth Avenue and two nearly identical Labradoodles named Max and Maxx, commemorated the occasion with a small gathering of close friends and a “totally normal” champagne brunch featuring mimosas, quiche, and a framed photo collage titled “Our Journey.”

“It’s really just about saving money,” Kelner explained, pouring his roommate another glass of prosecco. “With the economy and all, it makes sense for two single guys to share everything — a home, a car, matching beach chairs, a holiday card account — for a couple of decades.”

Kelner’s mother, however, remains “mildly confused but supportive.”
“He keeps telling me they’re just roommates,” said Shirley Kelner, 71, of Dover. “But then last Christmas, their card said ‘Love, Todd, Brad, and the Boys.’ I assumed that meant children. Turns out it was the dogs. I try not to ask questions.”

Neighbors say the two are known around town for their coordinated outfits, especially during summer parades and off-season pub crawls.
“They say it’s just for visibility and safety,” said one resident. “But I’ve never seen two men accidentally buy the same linen shirt six years in a row.”

Asked whether the milestone brunch had any special significance, Dempsey was quick to clarify.
“We’re not celebrating us, we’re celebrating our friendship,” he said. “It just happened to fall on the anniversary of when we first moved in together, which also happens to be Valentine’s Day.”

Chief Rick Holbrook of the Rehoboth Beach Police Department offered congratulations to his longtime officer.
“I’ve known Todd for years,” Holbrook said. “Dedicated, disciplined, great officer. Honestly, I always assumed he was gay — I was shocked to find out how straight he apparently is.”

When asked what’s next for the pair, Kelner smiled.
“We’re thinking about adopting,” he said quickly, before adding, “a third Labradoodle.”