§ 1331 — County police; powers and duties

(a) The County police shall have all of the police powers conferred by law upon law-enforcement officers in the State and all of such police may exercise such police powers anywhere in New Castle County. All police appointed under this section shall see that the peace and good order of the State within the aforesaid County be duly kept according to their powers and authority; shall arrest all persons who shall in either of their presence commit any riot, affray or other breach of peace, or who shall be riotously assembled, and take them before a justice of the peace in the respective hundred where the person is apprehended to be dealt with according to law; shall use diligence in arresting murderers, thieves and other felons, and disturbers of the peace, and in case of resistance to either of their authority, or other case of necessity, may command aid of any of the people of the State; shall duly prevent all bloodsheds, affrays and breaches of the peace; and shall execute all other duties in accordance with the law. Such police shall patrol said hundreds during such hours, under such conditions and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Chief of Police of New Castle County.

(b) The County police shall be subject to such directives and policies as the Chief of Police may prescribe.

(c) No merger of the New Castle County police with any other police force or agency shall be valid unless and until approved by the General Assembly.

Legislative History

71 Del. Laws, c. 401, § 59