The Wilmington Police Department traces its origins to November 16, 1739, when the Charter of the Borough of Wilmington provided for “burgesses” to serve as the conservators of the peace. The earliest form of policing in Wilmington was known as the ‘watch and ward’ system, which was common not only in the United States during this period but in Europe as well. 

Wilmington, which at the time was considered a town rather than a city, would later have a constables elected by the town council. Constables would conduct patrols during daytime hours, and were responsible for keeping the peace. Members of the night watch would conduct patrols from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m., with one watchman for each political ward. According to the duties of the night watch, “they shall light and trim the city lamps as necessary, they shall arrest and detain all malefactors, rogues, vagabonds and other persons abroad with evil design – they shall bring these persons before the nearest magistrate or mayor’s court”.

In 1848, Wilmington became a city and was named the county seat for New Castle County. As the population grew, so did the calls for increasing the size of the police force – with officers commonly known as “city constables” during this period of time. The department deployed nearly 40 officers by 1873. At times, the entire police force was appointed by the mayor and served at the pleasure of the mayor – meaning that a newly elected mayor could dismiss and replace the entire department.

In 1891, the Delaware State Legislature passed the Metropolitan Police Act, which professionalized the Wilmington Police Department and called for the hiring of officers based upon their ability to perform the job, rather than political appointments. The department was reorganized to serve under the direction of the Chief of Police and a Commissioner of Public Safety.

In the years that followed, the Wilmington Police Department instituted a series of changes and steps to further professionalize the department, leading the State of Delaware in instituting these innovations in law enforcement.

In 1893, women were first hired to serve as matrons – sworn officers with arrest powers, charged with guarding female prisoners and detainees. In 1914, the department created a Traffic Division to respond to the growth and expansion of automobile use in the city, and in 1915, the department created a Detective Division and an Identification Unit.

In 1916, department leaders visited the New York City Police Academy to learn about the agency’s training programs. Upon their return, they created a Police School of Instruction for new officers to attend, as well as for annual training for veteran officers. In 1922, the department formed a team of officers with specialized training and tactics, the precursor to the department’s present-day Crisis Management Tactical Team. 

In 1924, Lockmore Purnell became the first African American police officer in Wilmington, and throughout Delaware. Many more have followed in his footsteps, with Samuel Pratcher becoming the first African American to hold the position of Chief of Police. The Wilmington Police Department has consistently become more diverse since that date, a trend that has continued through recent academy classes that have been comprised of more than 30 percent minority recruits. 

Today, the Wilmington Police Department is led by a Chief of Police and two Majors, who serve as Deputy Chiefs. Captains, Lieutenants and Sergeants lead various divisions, units and teams, and several dozen civilian employees provide support to the agency and to the community. The department remains the largest urban law enforcement agency in the State of Delaware, and continues to lead the way among agencies throughout the region in embracing innovation in law enforcement and adopting new tools to help enhance public safety in the state’s largest city.