Delaware State Police | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | DSP |
Agency overview | |
Formed | April 23, 1923[1] |
Preceding agency |
|
Employees | 847 (as of 2008)[2] |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Operations jurisdiction | Delaware, USA |
Map of Delaware State Police's jurisdiction | |
Size | 1,982 square miles (5,130 km2) |
Population | 907,135 (2011 est.)[3] |
General nature | |
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | Dover, Delaware |
Troopers | 706 (as of 2014)[2] |
Civilians | 242 (as of 2014)[2] |
Agency executive |
|
Facilities | |
Troops | 8 |
Website | |
http://dsp.delaware.gov/ |
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 US 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]
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.