DELAWARE STATE POLICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

Lieutenant Walter Newton

The Division’s Public Information Office (PIO) is responsible for responding to media inquiries, coordinating press conferences and public events, assisting field personnel with local media relations, and serving as a liaison on public relations matters with other governmental agencies. Moreover, the office strives to educate the public, highlight the Division’s accomplishments, and improve public relations by producing and disseminating accurate and timely information through field programs, media contacts, and public service announcements. The newsroom, which is maintained by the Public Information Office, on the Delaware State Police web page, greatly enhances the dissemination of information to the media and public.

In 2008 Sgt. Joshua A. Bushweller was the Director of the Public Information Office and was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and administrative duties that are associated with the unit. Coupled with these responsibilities, he served as a co-coordinator for the Delaware Amber Alert Program and coordinated the division’s community outreach efforts. In May, he also assumed primary responsibility for handling Kent and Sussex County media relations.

Working alongside Sgt. Bushweller was Cpl/1 Jeffery C. Whitmarsh II who serves as the primary New Castle County Public Information Officer. In addition to his daily responsibilities as a PIO, he manages the PIO Newsroom of the DSP website and conducts numerous community service presentations throughout the state.

Collectively the unit worked aggressively in 2008 promoting the great work done daily by the division. Many great achievements were accomplished in 2008 through the hard work and dedication of unit members. In particular, the PIO office managed and successfully completed three Citizens Police Academies across the state, played an integral part in the DSP Website Renovation Project, initiated the “Troopers Target Hunger” program, conducted the 2nd Annual Coat Drive for the Needy and continued its production of the divisional newsletter the DSP Digest.

As public representatives of the Delaware State Police, the Public Information Office strives daily to represent the troopers of this division with excellence and to uphold the pride and tradition that has been with DSP since it’s inception in 1923.

- Information obtained from 2008 DSP Annual Report -