Bill > SB209

This bill amends the Charter of the City of Seaford to more formally establish and define the role of the Chief of Police and the Police Department. The bill creates a new formal process for appointing the Chief of Police, who will be selected by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, and who will report directly to the City Manager. The Chief of Police will have expanded administrative powers, including the ability to establish departmental policies, and to appoint, assign, promote, suspend, or dismiss department members within the bounds of existing employment laws. The bill also clarifies the police department's jurisdictional powers, explicitly stating that officers have full police powers within Seaford's corporate limits and may have extended powers outside those limits as allowed by state and local law. The legislation outlines specific duties for police officers, including enforcing federal, state, and local laws, maintaining public order, protecting life and property, and bringing arrested individuals before the appropriate judicial authority. The bill removes several older, more descriptive sections about police powers and replaces them with more concise, contemporary language that defines the department's core responsibilities and organizational structure.

Government Affairs

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=142723