The Delaware Capitol Police (DCP) is a division of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
CAPITOL POLICE TIMELINE
1965 Capitol Security initiated (3 man unit)
1969 Capitol Police assumes responsibility for Woodburn
1974 renamed Capitol Security Police with limited arrest authority
Acquired first canine
1978 Chief’s position no longer appointed by Governor
Wilmington office was initiated with 2 police officers
1979 Headquarters moved to 522 South State Street (DMV)
1980 Qualified security officers attend abbreviated DSP Training Academy and
are sworn in
Wilmington office increased to 4 police officers
Renamed Capitol Security Police
1982 AG grants Capitol Police officers statewide arrest authority
1984 Carvel State Building renovations completed and 4 security officers hired to
monitor building 24/7
1983 renamed to Capitol Police
1985 Headquarters moved to 150 William Penn Street, Dover DE
Communications center moved to Capitol Police to support Capitol Police,
DNREC and Animal Control Officers 24/7
1986 began full-time officer at the Sussex County Courthouse
1991 began entrance screening at the Daniel Hermann Courthouse
1993 began full-time officer at Kent County Courthouse
Minner Commission considers the elimination of the Capitol Police
1994 Governor Carper moves Capitol Police from Dept of Administrative Services
to Dept of Public Safety
1995 New patch is adopted
Communications center in Dover is merged into the Delaware State Police
Kent County Communications (911-KentCom)
1996 Kent County Courthouse secures their facility, enacts single entry system
2001 24/7 Patrol Section is temporarily disbanded in favor of more officers in
buildings during business hours
Legislative Hall enacts security measures including a single entrance
system
2002 New Castle County Courthouse opens
2006 Capitol Police officially recognized as a division within Department of Safety
and Homeland Security (DSHS) in DE Code Title 29, Chapter 82, § 8233.
Division of Capitol Police and as a law enforcement agency in DE Code
Title 11, Chapter 82 Capitol Police
2007 Policy manual completely revised to cover important aspects of policing by
direction of DSHS secretary
Division assigns first full-time detective
2008 Division initiates pursuit of state accreditation through the Delaware Police
Accreditation Commission (DPAC)
2011 Division creates Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to conduct complex and
multi-jurisdictional investigations
2013 Shooting occurs at the New Castle County Courthouse. Two victims were
killed and two Capitol Police officers were wounded before the shooter was
stopped by the Capitol Police
The Comprehensive School Safety Plan is assimilated into the Capitol
Police as a new mission for the division
2013 Capitol Police successfully completes the process and becomes the second
agency to be awarded accreditation through the Delaware Police
Accreditation Commission (DPAC)
Capitol Police creates a recognition pin that is adopted by DPAC as the
official recognition pin to worn by agencies who achieve DPAC accreditation
Capitol Police receives funding to support the hiring of 14 police officers and
4 dispatchers including an additional lieutenant, sergeant and detective.
Additional funding was provided to purchase patrol rifles and new screening
equipment for the Carvel State Building
2014 Capitol Police develops and launches the new Victim Intervention Program
(VIP) created to identify court patrons who could potentially become victims
of domestic violence while attending court hearings or addressing other
court business
“It is the mission of Delaware Capitol Police to protect the people and strategic properties within state government.”
