The Investigative Operations branch of the Wilmington Police Department is overseen by Major Anthony Bowers, and includes the following divisions and units:

The Human Resources Division is responsible for providing human resource services and support to the agency, along with research and planning services to assist in the department’s overall effectiveness. This Division is responsible for facilitating the Police Academy process as well as ongoing training for the entire department, as well as the process of maintaining accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Investigative Divisions

The Criminal Investigations Division is responsible for providing investigative services to the agency and community. Detectives assigned to this division investigate a wide range of cases – including murders, shooting incidents, burglaries, thefts, domestic violence, sexual assaults, fraud and other offenses. This Division also includes the Forensic Services Unit, which handles evidence collection and processing, as well as the Victim Services Unit. Members of this Division work tirelessly to identify those responsible for offenses and to bring justice to those who are affected by crime. Detectives work collaboratively to investigate cases, and also to prepare for, and testify during, judicial proceedings once arrests are made.

The Drug, Organized Crime and Vice Division is responsible for helping to increase public safety and security in Wilmington through various investigative techniques and enforcement actions. Members of this Division often investigate those responsible for trafficking, selling and buying narcotics, as well as groups of individuals engaged in criminal activity. This Division also includes some personnel assigned by the State of Delaware Department of Correction’s Office of Probation and Parole, who work alongside Wilmington Police investigators to enforce court sanctions and post-release requirements placed on individuals who are granted probation or parole.

The Support Services Division is responsible for a range of services for the department and for the public. This Division includes the Records Unit, which processes police reports and fields requests from the public, as well as the evidence unit which manages all evidence that is collected and cataloged. This Division also manages the department’s property unit, ensuring that personnel receive the equipment and materials necessary to perform their duties.

The Communications Division is responsible for providing support both to members of the public and to members of the department by fielding emergency and non-emergency calls and dispatching officers accordingly. This Division receives, logs and dispatches more than 250,000 calls for service annually, and works consistently to implement new technology and training to enhance the effectiveness of the department’s in-house 9-1-1 call center.