To continue with the Delaware State Police 100th Year celebration, we commemorate the first state police troop.
On April 23, 1923, the Delaware State Police was founded and has expanded into today’s present law enforcement organization. Also in 1923, the first state police station was opened in Penny Hill on Philadelphia Pike near Bellevue. It was an old construction shack that served both as a police station and as headquarters. There were fourteen men who worked twelve-hour shifts, seven days a week. From this location, officers policed all of Delaware. Every day an officer would travel the entire state from top to bottom stopping at post offices in each county.
As the population in Delaware grew, so did the need for law enforcement. On April 25, 1961, a new Troop 1 building was dedicated at Penny Hill, which had been constructed at a cost of $230,000. The building was occupied by troopers in September of 1960 and was staffed 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
Today, Troop 1 houses 43 sworn troopers and 2 civilian employees. There are four patrol shifts divided into 10 troopers on each shift working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are three sworn administrators consisting of a captain and two lieutenants overseeing traffic and criminal complaints. There are also two civilian employees, which include an administrative assistant and a troop mechanic.
“It’s an absolute honor to command the first troop in the first state,” says Captain Kerry Reinbold, current Commander at Troop 1. “There is so much history and lore at Troop 1 you can’t help but feel you are part of something much bigger. When I received my transfer to Troop 1, Colonel Zebley stressed the importance of Troop 1 and its legacy. It’s truly a one of a kind troop and the women and men who have graced the halls are forever impacted from the privilege of being Hillers.”
The Delaware State Police have grown and expanded over the last 100 years. There are eight patrol troops, a headquarters building, an academy training facility, and a firearms training facility. DSP continues to expand and update our facilities to provide the best service to the citizens we proudly serve.
You can follow the Delaware State Police by clicking on:
Delaware State Police Official Website
Visit our civilian job opening page at:
Civilian Careers – Delaware State Police – State of Delaware
Please tell us how we’re doing via our Citizen Satisfaction Survey.
Presented by Public Information Officer, Senior Corporal Jason Hatchell
Released: 042023 0855
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