Abbreviation DCCPPD | Employees 62 | |
 | ||
Common name Delaware County Park Police Legal personality Governmental: Government agency Operations jurisdiction* County (US) of Delaware in the state of Pennsylvania, USA Size 191 square miles (490 km) | ||
The Delaware County Courthouse & Park Police Department (Commonly known as “The Delaware County Park Police”) is a county-wide police department, responsible for providing police services for all parks, physical property, and government buildings of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. This is the only police department in Delaware County that has county-wide jurisdiction, as every municipality has either its own police department or is patrolled by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Contents
Under the direction of Chief Samuel Ziviello, there are sixty two officers in the department who maintain foot and vehicle patrols twenty-four hours a day, throughout the year. The officers continue their training through in-service training, as well as courses offered by the District Attorney's Office and the Police Academy at Delaware County Community College.
Basic information
All officers are required to qualify annually with their firearms in accordance with the course approved by the Delaware County Police Chief's Association. In addition, the Delaware County Park Police Training Division has certified use of force , firearms instructors & rangemasters and all officers have been certified in basic first aid and CPR.
Within the department exists the Detective Division which is responsible for investigating criminal activities that occur on county property as well as investigate motor vehicle accidents and property damage when requested by the department of Risk Management. The force provides police services for the Department of Special Events and handles approximately 120,000 vehicles with over 350,000 visitors who visit Delaware County parks yearly. In addition, the department is responsible for the issuance of identification cards for all county employees and persons utilizing said properties and facilities.
RANKS: COMMAND STAFF: Chief of Police, Senior Captain, Detective/Captain, Lieutenants
SUPERVISORY STAFF: Detective/Sergeant, Sergeants, Corporals
Police Officers: Patrolmen and (Detective / Investigator) Ranks, and descriptions of the Delaware County Park Police
55th Police District Delaware County
Areas of responsibility Patrol AreasOperations & Administration Bureau:
Patrol Division, Training Unit, Equipment & FleetSupport Operations Bureau:
Detective Division / (S.R.T.)Special Response Team, Emergency Management & PlanningOfficer fatalities
The Delaware County Courthouse and Park Police has, as of 2013, lost two officers in the line of duty, Corporal Ernest Lang and Patrolman Edward Wehe III. Corporal Lang was shot while attempting to foil a hold-up robbery on December 10, 1978 in the city of Chester. Though mortally wounded, he managed to disable one of the suspects and prevent any loss of civilian life. Officer Wehe died suddenly while on duty on November 5, 2013 after returning from a call at the county prison.