The Delaware State Police (DSP) is a division of the Delaware Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security and is responsible for traffic regulation and law enforcement across the state of Delaware, especially in areas underserved by local police departments. The DSP is headquartered in the capital Dover, Delaware.
The Delaware State Police currently employs 723 full-time officers, which is 75 troopers for every 100,000 residents in 2019, the largest number of any state police force.[4]
Troops
Currently, the DSP operates out of eight barracks known as "Troops", not including Headquarters. Each county has one troop that is shared between patrol (Uniformed) and detective (CIU) units. Delaware State Police investigate over 33,000 criminal complaints yearly.
A sub-station of Troop 1, called Troop 1A, was located on the grounds of the Brandywine Town Center in the Brandywine Hundred section of New Castle County. It is now closed.
Troop 2 – Bear, New Castle County (Shared by Patrol, C.I.U., G.T.F. and New Castle County C.R.U.)
Troop 3 – Rising Sun, Kent County (Shared by Patrol, C.I.U., G.T.F. and Kent County C.R.U.)
In Kent and Sussex Counties, the Delaware State Police serve as the primary law-enforcement agency that are not incorporated into municipalities who have their own law enforcement agency.
In New Castle County, the Delaware State Police shares primary jurisdiction with the New Castle County Police. The 1974 jurisdictional agreement between DSP and NCCPD states the New Castle County Police investigates complaints in residences or commercial areas located on county roads or community streets. The Delaware State Police investigates complaints in residences or commercial areas located on state roads or interstate highways. However, in an emergency incident, the closest New Castle County Police officer or Delaware State Police trooper will respond no matter where the complaint originates from.
Units/sections
Like other state police agencies, the Delaware State Police has several sub-divisions specializing in addressing particular crimes or security needs.
Full-time units
Aviation Unit (North & South Hangars)
Canine Unit
Collision Reconstruction Unit
Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Unit
Community Outreach Unit
Criminal Investigations Units (Robbery, Burglary, Financial Crimes, Major Crimes, Domestic Violence & Youth Aid Detectives)
Drug Unit
Evidence Detection Unit
Executive Protection Unit
Firearms Training Unit
Gaming Enforcement Unit
Governor's Task Force
High Technology Crimes Unit
Homeland Security
Homicide Unit
Inspections/Accreditation Unit
Intelligence Unit
Internal Affairs
Maritime Unit
Polygraph Unit
Public Information Office
Planning Section
Recruiting Unit
School Resource Officer
Sex Offender Apprehension & Registration Unit
Special Operations Response Team (10 Full-Time Members)
State Bureau of Identification
Training Academy
Traffic Section
Part-time units
Conflict Management Team
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Honor Guard Unit
Motor Unit
Mounted Patrol Unit
Pipes & Drums Unit
Scuba Team (Water Operations & Recovery)
Special Operations Response Team (Part-Time Members from across the state outside of the 10 Full-Time Members)
Additionally, the Delaware State Police also provides 9-1-1 dispatch center services in all 3 counties for both DSP and any municipal agencies which do not have their own dispatcher. RECOM is for New Castle County, KENTCOM is for Kent County, and SUSCOM is for Sussex County. The New Castle County Police and several of the larger city police provide their own dispatch services.
Division of Gaming Enforcement
The Division of Gaming Enforcement is responsible for enforcing state laws relating to gaming that occur in a licensed video lottery facility, or which relate the operation of the Delaware Lottery.[5]
The Casino Background Investigators are responsible for background checks on staff involved in gambling, and the Criminal Investigations and Intelligence team, which includes 8 state troopers and an agent from the Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement, investigates gaming crime and develops intelligence on criminal activity in relation to gaming and gambling. In 2019, 361 complaints were investigated by the Division.[6]
Uniforms and equipment
Since the 1950s, members of the DSP have worn uniforms more similar to the state's colors of "blue and gold". In the past, DSP used military-type colors of navy and green.
The most distinctive uniform is the "Class A Dress" uniform consisting of a navy blue military dress coat with French blue shoulder epaulets and sleeve cuffs. The long sleeve uniform shirt is French blue in color with a navy blue tie. The DSP patch bearing the great seal of Delaware is worn on the left arm of all uniform items. The trooper's rank is worn on both sleeves. The trooper's years of service "hash-marks" are worn on the lower part of the left arm. The trooper's badge is worn over the left pocket and the nameplate, along with any awards, over the right pocket. A matching French blue color trouser with a 2-inch gold stripe on the legs is worn with black leather knee-high riding boots. This was the standard everyday uniform in the past. However, it is now worn for special events only.
The standard winter uniform, worn between November and April, is the same as the "Class A Dress" uniform, except that the military dress coat is replaced with a standard patrol jacket. The knee-high boots are replaced with shoes, however some troopers still wear the boots.
The standard summer uniform, worn between April and November, is the same as the winter uniform, except the long sleeve shirt is replaced with a short sleeve shirt and it is worn without the tie. During the summer months the color of the uniform trouser changes from French blue to navy blue with the same 2-inch gold stripe.
DSP troopers wear a navy blue campaign hat with the state seal. Prior to the 1950s, they wore a tan cavalry-style hat like those worn by Maryland troopers.
Troopers holding the rank of lieutenant and above wear gold badges, nameplates, and collar rank. They are also permitted to wear a white color shirt in place of the French blue shirt, but this has fallen out of practice in recent years.
The DSP duty belt is Gould & Goodrich plain black leather with a Safariland "raptor level-3" holster. The ammo pouch, OC spray holder, and handcuff case have silver snaps (gold for lieutenant and above). The portable radio and ASP baton is also worn on the duty belt. A shoulder strap is used with the "Class A Dress" uniform, otherwise standard belt keepers are used. It is DSP policy that all duty belts are to be worn the same way, so troopers can not remove or add any equipment to the duty belt.
Best dressed
In 2005, the Delaware State Police were named the "best-dressed state law enforcement agency" according to the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers.
Rank structure
Title
Insignia
Details
Colonel
Colonel of the Delaware State Police.
Lieutenant colonel
Second in Command of the Delaware State Police.
Major
Member of the Executive Staff in charge of a specific duty.
Captain
Troop Commander of a Patrol Troop, or Commander of a specialized unit.
Lieutenant
Assistant Troop Commander, oversees the Troop's criminal or traffic activities or oversees a specialized unit.
Sergeant
Road supervisor for Troopers, or Supervisor of a specialty unit.
Master corporal
Troopers with 16+ years of experience.
Senior corporal
Troopers with 12 to 16 years of experience.
Corporal I
Troopers with 8 to 12 years of experience.
Corporal
Troopers with 4 to 8 years of experience.
Trooper 1st class
Troopers with 2 to 4 years of experience.
Trooper
New Troopers who have graduated the Delaware State Police Training Academy.
Firearms
Delaware State Troopers are issued the SIG Sauer P320 chambered for 9mm. Patrol rifles were updated in 2012 when the State Police purchased the SIG Sauer SIG516. The Remington 870 is the standard issue patrol shotgun.,[7]
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Highway Traffic Police in 1919, the predecessor to the Delaware State Police, 19 officers have died while on duty, the most recent being April 26, 2017.[8]
^"History of the Delaware State Police". Delaware State Police - State of Delaware. Governor William Denney addressed the General Assembly on January 3, 1923, and during his message stated "In my judgment the police force of the Highway Department is not adequate . . . I desire to suggest that a State Police force be organized . . . ." On April 23, 1923, the General Assembly, at the request of the State Highway Department, enacted two laws that created the Delaware State Police. This date marks the official organization of the present law enforcement organization.
