By Amelia Anderson The Wilmington Police Department, commonly known as WPD, is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Wilmington, Delaware. The department responds to emergency and non-emergency calls, investigates crimes, enforces traffic laws and provides patrol, investigative, traffic, K-9, records, victim-services, intelligence and community-policing services.
WPD operates from the William T. McLaughlin Public Safety Building on North Walnut Street. Patrol operations use three geographic sectors containing nine patrol districts. The department also follows a district-integrity approach, assigning officers consistently to the same neighborhoods whenever possible.
Residents should call 911 for emergencies or crimes in progress. For non-emergency police assistance, call 302-654-5151.
Wilmington Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Wilmington Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | WPD |
| Headquarters | William T. McLaughlin Public Safety Building |
| Headquarters address | 300 N. Walnut Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency number | 302-654-5151 |
| Headquarters office | 302-576-3940 |
| Records / copies of reports | 302-576-3607 |
| Criminal Investigations Division | 302-576-3620 |
| Crime Tip Hotline | 302-576-3990 |
| Drug Hotline | 302-888-1800 |
| Office of Professional Standards | 302-576-3197 |
| Patrol structure | Three sectors and nine patrol districts |
| County | New Castle County |
| Primary state detention facility in Wilmington | Howard R. Young Correctional Institution |
| HRYCI address | 1301 East 12th Street, Wilmington, DE 19802 |
| HRYCI phone | 302-429-7700 |
Wilmington Police Department Address
Wilmington Police Department headquarters is located at:
- William T. McLaughlin Public Safety Building, 300 N. Walnut Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
The headquarters office number is: 302-576-3940
The police non-emergency number is: 302-654-5151
Public office hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Call 911 when a crime is happening, someone is injured or in immediate danger, a weapon is involved or urgent police, fire or medical assistance is required.
Important Wilmington Police Phone Numbers
| Police service | Phone number |
| Emergency assistance | 911 |
| Police non-emergency | 302-654-5151 |
| Headquarters office | 302-576-3940 |
| Records / copies of reports | 302-576-3607 |
| Criminal Investigations Division | 302-576-3620 |
| Crime Tip Hotline | 302-576-3990 |
| Drug Hotline | 302-888-1800 |
| Youth Response Unit | 302-576-3183 |
| Office of Professional Standards | 302-576-3197 |
| Howard R. Young Correctional Institution | 302-429-7700 |
New incidents requiring police response should normally be reported through 911 or the non-emergency number rather than directly to a specialized unit.
Wilmington Police Sectors and Patrol Districts
WPD patrol operations are organized into three geographic sectors:
- Sector 1 covers the part of Wilmington east of Interstate 95 and north of the Brandywine River.
- Sector 2 covers the part of Wilmington east of Interstate 95 and south of the Brandywine River.
- Sector 3 covers the part of Wilmington west of Interstate 95.
Within these sectors, the city is divided into nine patrol districts.
The department uses a strategy known as district integrity. Officers are assigned to the same neighborhoods on a regular basis so they can become more familiar with residents, businesses, recurring concerns and local crime patterns.
Residents do not need to know their sector or district before calling police. Dispatchers use the incident location to determine the appropriate response.
Uniformed Operations
Uniformed Operations includes the department’s frontline patrol and specialized field services.
The Uniformed Services Division, commonly called the Patrol Division, is the largest and most visible part of WPD. Patrol officers respond to calls for service and patrol neighborhoods throughout Wilmington.
Typical patrol duties include:
- Responding to 911 calls
- Handling non-emergency calls
- Conducting preliminary criminal investigations
- Responding to disturbances and suspicious activity
- Handling violent and property crimes
- Making arrests
- Conducting welfare checks
- Enforcing traffic laws
- Responding to vehicle crashes
- Neighborhood and business patrol
WPD also uses directed foot patrols and community meetings to strengthen contact between assigned officers and the neighborhoods they serve.
Special Operations Division
The Special Operations Division provides specialized field services that support regular patrol.
Its functions include:
- Traffic Unit
- Motorcycle Unit
- School Resource Officers
- Canine Unit
- Downtown patrol assignments
- Riverfront patrol assignments
- West Center City assignments
- Other specialized enforcement details
Traffic officers focus on safe vehicle and pedestrian movement, traffic-law enforcement and crash-related responsibilities. Motorcycle officers also support escorts and major special events.
K-9 teams provide trained police-dog support for patrol, searches and other law-enforcement operations.
Investigative Operations
Investigative Operations handles criminal cases and specialized investigations that require additional follow-up.
The branch includes major functions such as:
- Criminal Investigations Division
- Drug, Organized Crime and Vice Division
- Office of Professional Standards
- Human Resources
- Investigative support functions
The Criminal Investigations Division can be contacted at:
302-576-3620
Detectives investigate serious crimes, interview victims and witnesses, review evidence and coordinate with prosecutors and other law-enforcement agencies when necessary.
People contacting investigators about an existing case should have the police case number available whenever possible.
Drug, Organized Crime and Vice Investigations
WPD maintains specialized investigative personnel focused on narcotics, organized criminal activity and vice-related offenses.
Residents can provide information about suspected drug activity through the WPD Drug Hotline:
302-888-1800
The general Crime Tip Hotline is:
302-576-3990
Tip lines are intended for investigative information. They should not be used when a crime is happening or immediate police assistance is required.
Support Services, Records and Communications
The Support Services Division includes the Records Unit, evidence management and property-related support.
The Records Unit processes police reports and handles public requests for available reports.
For report-copy questions, call: 302-576-3607
The Communications Division operates the department’s emergency and non-emergency call-taking and dispatch functions. Dispatch personnel receive calls, log incidents and send officers to appropriate locations.
How to File a Wilmington Police Report
WPD does not currently advertise a general online crime-reporting portal for filing ordinary police reports.
For an emergency or crime in progress, call 911.
For a non-emergency incident requiring police assistance, call: 302-654-5151
Residents may also visit the Police Department at 300 N. Walnut Street when appropriate.
WPD provides an online system for submitting video or photographic evidence connected to incidents, but the department specifically states that uploading evidence is not a substitute for filing a police report.
Obtaining Wilmington Police Reports
Victims of crime may obtain a copy of an incident or crime report by visiting the Wilmington Police Department at 300 N. Walnut Street.
The department states that this service is free for crime victims.
For questions about incident or crime reports, contact the Records Unit at: 302-576-3607
A requester should have the case number, incident date, location and involved names when available.
Access to some reports or information may be restricted depending on the nature of the case and applicable law.
Wilmington Collision Reports
Parties involved in a motor-vehicle collision, as well as their legal representatives and insurance companies, can request copies of collision reports.
The department currently requires a written request, a self-addressed stamped envelope and a $20 check or money order payable to the Wilmington Police Department.
Requests are mailed to:
- Wilmington Police Department
- Attention: Records Unit
- 300 N. Walnut Street
- Wilmington, Delaware 19801
For collision-report questions, call 302-576-3607.
What County Is Wilmington Police Department In?
Wilmington is located in New Castle County, Delaware.
The Wilmington Police Department provides municipal law-enforcement services within the City of Wilmington. New Castle County Police and the New Castle County Sheriff’s Office are separate agencies with different responsibilities.
Delaware is unusual because its major correctional institutions are operated by the Delaware Department of Correction, rather than by county governments. Therefore, Wilmington does not rely on a conventional New Castle County jail in the same way many cities in other states use county detention centers.
Wilmington Police and Howard R. Young Correctional Institution
A major state detention facility serving the Wilmington area is the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, operated by the Delaware Department of Correction.
The facility is located at:
- Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, 1301 East 12th Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19802
The facility telephone number is: 302-429-7700
The institution is a Level 5 facility and houses a large share of Delaware’s detainee population, including people awaiting trial or sentencing and people unable to make bail.
Current custody information should be confirmed through the Delaware Department of Correction because detention status can change.
Complaints and Commendations
The Office of Professional Standards handles complaints involving Wilmington Police employees.
The office can be contacted Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at: 302-576-3197
Complaints can also be submitted in person at the Public Safety Building, and WPD provides an online citizen complaint form.
Useful complaint information includes:
- Date and time
- Exact location
- Employee name or description
- Badge information when known
- Police case number
- Witness information
- Photographs or recordings
- A clear description of what occurred
WPD also provides a process for submitting commendations for positive interactions with department employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Wilmington Police non-emergency number?
A: The Wilmington Police Department non-emergency number is 302-654-5151. Call 911 for emergencies or crimes currently in progress.
Q: Where is Wilmington Police Department headquarters?
A: WPD headquarters is located in the William T. McLaughlin Public Safety Building at 300 N. Walnut Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
Q: How is Wilmington Police patrol organized?
A: WPD divides the city into three sectors containing nine patrol districts. The department uses district integrity so officers can regularly work in the same neighborhoods.
Q: Can I file a Wilmington police report online?
A: WPD does not currently advertise a general online crime-reporting portal. Non-emergency incidents should be reported by calling 302-654-5151 or contacting the department directly.
Q: Does Wilmington Police operate a county jail?
A: No. Delaware’s major correctional facilities are state-operated. The Howard R. Young Correctional Institution at 1301 East 12th Street in Wilmington is operated by the Delaware Department of Correction.