DELAWARE STATE POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY

Captain Robert Hawkins

The Delaware State Police Training Academy is commanded by Director of Training Captain Robert Hawkins. The Academy Staff includes fifteen sworn and non-sworn employees of the Division of State Police committed to providing members of the Division and allied law enforcement agencies with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide compassionate, comprehensive public safety services to the citizens and visitors of the State of Delaware. Within the Training Academy table of organization are four separate and distinct units which provide a variety of training to Delaware Troopers, as well as officers of all Delaware law enforcement departments.

The DSP Academy Staff includes Lieutenant Bruce Von Goerres, Sergeant Douglas Deveney, Corporal Dermot Alexander and Corporal Amy Hrupsa. In 2009, the DSP Academy continued to provide basic recruit training for the Division of State Police as well as most Delaware law enforcement agencies. During the year seventy-two recruits were provided with approximately 1000 hours of training necessary for a successful start of a career in law enforcement. The Academy staff also provided mandatory and elective in-service training to incumbent members of the State Police and law enforcement agencies from throughout the state. Two sessions of mandatory annual in-service training were provided to each member of the Division. In addition, seventy-one elective in-service classes were provided to DSP Troopers and Delaware police officers.

The Firearms Training Unit is headed up by Lieutenant Michael Berry. This unit had a very busy and successful year in 2009. Not only did members of the Unit provide mandatory firearms requalification training to each sworn member of the Division, they also developed and implemented a realistic, tactical training event which included force on force, active shooter response and stress induced training. The FTU also trained each recruit trained at the DSP Academy as well as facilitated training for numerous municipal and state law enforcement agencies. Other members of the FTU are Sergeant Charles Condon, Corporal Donald Boulerice, Corporal James Warwick and Corporal Ralph Thomas.

The DSP Canine Training Unit is headed up by Corporal Joseph Gardner and Corporal Mark Windsor. They oversee the training of the Basic Patrol class, Explosive Detection and Narcotics Detection classes for canine teams from the Division of State Police and several municipal police agencies. In addition to teaching these courses, the Canine Unit continued to conduct monthly update training and annual recertification for 26 DSP teams and 12 departments from other agencies throughout the state.

The Domestic Violence Unit is head up by Sergeant Scott McCarthy. In addition to sitting on many boards and committees as the proxy for the Superintendent, the Domestic Violence Policy and Training Coordinator provided domestic violence related training to recruits attending the DSP Academy. Sergeant McCarthy facilitated the Annual Domestic Violence Conference which provided training in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of domestic violence related crimes. The conference drew approximately 100 officers and advocates from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

The training conducted by the Academy staff in 2009 could not have been accomplished without the support of Administrative Specialists Ms. Sharon Burge and Ms. Diana Miller, or Mr. James Howard of the culinary staff.
 

- Information obtained from 2009 DSP Annual Report -