Full Notification

Wilmington Mayor John Carney and Chief of Police Wilfredo Campos today announced the start of the 104th Wilmington Police Academy. Beginning this morning, the 12 recruits who completed the comprehensive application and selection process will embark upon the department’s rigorous training program, and they have formed the latest academy class in Delaware’s largest city.
 
The members of the academy class were selected from among the 96 men and women who applied to join the Wilmington Police Department. In addition to the 12 future Wilmington Police officers in the class, a recruit from the Cheswold Police Department will also be participating in the training program.
 
“We could not be more excited to announce the start of this class, which is more than double the size of our past two classes, and which drew an increased number of applicants,” said Chief Campos. “We welcome each of the members of this latest Police Academy class, and look forward to preparing them for successful careers in law enforcement and public service.”
 
The Mayor and Chief congratulated the recruits on their selection following a lengthy application process, which included a written exam, physical ability test, interview panels including a Chief’s interview, and psychological and medical evaluations.
 
“I am excited to welcome these future police officers to the City of Wilmington,” said Mayor Carney. “Police officers are often the most visible representatives of city government, and play a critical role in supporting our residents and ensuring the safety of our neighborhoods. I look forward to getting to know these recruits, and wish them well as they embark upon this training program.”
 
The recruits will begin each morning at 5:30 a.m. with two hours of physical fitness, followed by eight hours of classroom time. In addition to studying Delaware criminal and traffic law, patrol functions and procedural justice, all recruits receive training in de-escalation and crisis intervention tactics.
 
“We are proud of our Police Academy and the wide-ranging curriculum that ensures our recruits are prepared for their careers in policing,” said Chief Campos. “From community engagement and de-escalation to legal matters and investigative techniques, our newest police officers will graduate ready to serve our community – and to help carry out the crime strategies that have brought about significant reductions in crime in Wilmington.”
 
As with past recruitment processes, members of the WPD Human Resources Division used a variety of means to share information about the process and encourage applications. That included members of the recruitment team attending career fairs and other programs at high schools, colleges – including Historically Black Colleges and Universities – and visiting community centers to promote the department and to share information with those who might be interested in a career in law enforcement. Recruitment teams also worked with the faith community and other community-based organizations to promote the application process.
 
To learn more about the Wilmington Police Department’s hiring process, and to contact a recruiter about future hiring processes, visit https://www.wilmingtonde.gov/government/public-safety/wilmington-police-department/join-the-wilmington-police-department.