DELAWARE STATE POLICE Office of Professional Resposibility

In April 2005, the Delaware State Police formed the Office of Professional Responsibility. This new section consists of an internal affairs function and an inspections/accreditation function. The Division’s policies and standard operating procedures are maintained by the Inspections/Accreditation Office. Internal investigations frequently stem from allegations relating to these same policies and procedures. By merging these two sections under the command of one section chief, necessary revisions to the Division’s policies and procedures are identified and implemented through a more timely process. Conflicts with the Commission for the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) standards are also readily identified and addressed.

Internal Affairs

The citizens of Delaware hold the Delaware State Police in high regard. Members of the Delaware State Police must set the tone for all law enforcement agencies in our state. The public expects members of our agency to act with integrity, reliability and trustworthiness. To accomplish and maintain the esteem placed upon its members, Delaware State Troopers must acknowledge, uphold and revere the core values of the Delaware State Police: Honor, Integrity, Courage, Loyalty, Attitude, Discipline, and Service.

The citizens we serve have an expectation that those who are vested with the responsibility of enforcing the laws of this state, as well as civilian employees, will hold fast to the standards of professional and individual conduct to preserve the respect, confidence and cooperation of society.

The public image of the Delaware State Police is, to a large degree, determined by the way the Internal Affairs Office responds to allegations of misconduct of its employees. The Internal Affairs Office is an essential function designed to maintain professional conduct, integrity and discipline of each employee. The Internal Affairs Office is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct and conducting investigations to ensure compliance with Divisional rules and regulations and the Code of Ethics. The Internal Affairs Office is readily accessible to citizens via telephone, letter, Internet, or in person. Captain Paul E. Smentkowski, Lieutenant Mark Daniels, Lieutenant Sherri Benson and Sergeant Alexander Peterson III are assigned to the Office.

In addition to its primary duties, the Internal Affairs Office maintains an active role in training supervisors and recruits. Supervisors are instructed on the proper handling of citizen complaints and investigative protocol in accordance with the Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights. Recruits are also acquainted with the function of the Internal Affairs Office, including an overview of rules, regulations and job performance standards.

In an effort to standardize the disciplinary process, the Internal Affairs Office and Troop 6 began testing the Blue Team program in the fall of 2005. This web-based reporting system documents citizens’ complaints, administrative investigations, force reports and vehicle pursuit reports. The system enables the Division to document and track the status of all complaints regardless of how or where the complaint was initiated. In addition, the Blue Team program has an automated Personnel Early Warning System. This will eliminate the manual system currently used. The program will be implemented Division wide by the spring of 2006. In July, 2005, Ms. Elizabeth Seay was assigned to the Internal Affairs Office as the Administrator of the Blue Team program.

Staff Inspections and Accreditation

The Staff Inspections and Accreditation Office’s primary responsibility is to assure that the Division’s policies and procedures comply with well over 400 standards established by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

In 1988, the Delaware State Police became the first department in Delaware to attain accreditation by CALEA. This is an on-going commitment consisting of a self-assessment, mock assessment and a comprehensive on-site inspection by three CALEA assessors every three years.

During the on-site inspection by the assessors, the Division must supply proof of compliance for each and every standard. Staffed by Lieutenant John A. Campanella and Sergeant Wendy S. Nichols, the office accomplishes this task by maintaining files and proofs for each standard. DSP completed the reaccreditation process in 1993, 1998, 2001 and 2004. The office is currently preparing for the April 2007 on-site inspection by CALEA.

CALEA was formed to establish a body of standards designed to (1) increase agencies’ capabilities to prevent and control crime; (2) increase agency effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services; (3) increase cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and with other agencies of the criminal justice system; and (4) increase citizen and employee confidence in the goals, objectives, policies and practices of the agency. In addition, the Commission was formed to develop an accreditation process that provides agencies an opportunity to voluntarily demonstrate that they meet an established set of professional standards.

The Staff Inspections and Accreditation Office also continuously updates written directives, reviews all new policies for compliance and conducts troop, vehicle and evidence storage locker inspections. Utilizing the Division’s advancing technology, all of the written directives and standard operating procedures are constantly updated on the secure Intranet.