Captain Glenn D. Dixon

Delaware State Police Troop 7 is located on State Route 1 just outside Lewes. It provides full service policing to the residents on the eastern third of Sussex County. This area continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the state. Currently, there are fifty-one uniformed officers, three civilian personnel and one volunteer assigned to Troop 7. Included among the fifty-one uniformed officers are three Troop Administrators and four members of the Sussex County Crash Reconstruction Unit (CRU).

Troop 7’s territory encompasses over four hundred and fifty square miles of very diverse communities. Much of the inland area consists of farmland and retirement communities. In contrast, the area is also home of the Rehoboth Outlets which is one of the largest outlet centers in the world with more than one hundred and forty retail stores. Bordered on the east by the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean, the area is a major vacation resort drawing thousands of people from the Washington, Baltimore, Wilmington and Pennsylvania metropolitan areas. This area continues to grow at a rapid pace as more people make this area their year-round residence. This has increased the demand for police services.

During 2009, the men and women of Troop 7 investigated 20,640 complaints, made 13,097 traffic arrests, 552 DUI arrests, and 4,330 criminal arrests. In addition, the CRU investigated 34 fatal accidents resulting in 41 deaths and 13 serious injury accidents, 11 of those fatal crashes occurred in Troop 7’s area.

Traffic safety is always one of Troop 7’s top priorities. During 2009 Troop 7’s personnel employed directed patrols, DUI assignments, seatbelt assignments, school bus enforcement and public awareness programs to enhance the safety of our roadways. The Troopers Educating About Roadway Safety (T.E.A.R.S.) program administered by the CRU team continues to be a big success with high school students.

Troop 7 continues to have a very strong and active Neighborhood Watch Programs. The communities meet every other month to discuss any current issues and problems occurring in their neighborhoods with the Troop Administration. The Program continues to be very well accepted as the public feels that they have a legitimate avenue to express their concerns in a very informal atmosphere with the one person who can effect change in police services. Our Citizens Assisting Police Services (CAPS) program which currently has one volunteer is an instrumental part of organizing and running the Neighborhood Watch Program. In 2009 our citizen volunteers logged over 500 hour assisting Troop 7 with the Community Watch Programs along with several other initiatives in the troop.


Troop 7 will continue to focus on crime reduction, highway safety and community relations in 2010 as a means of providing the best possible service to the citizens and guest of our great state.

- Information obtained from 2009 DSP Annual Report -