Uniformed strength of police departments.
Wilmington City Code § 2-232
in effectSec. 2-232. - Uniformed strength of police departments.
(a) The city police department shall maintain a level of manpower of no fewer than that number of sworn police officers which is set forth in the position allocation list attached to the annual operating budget ordinance for the applicable fiscal year.
(b) If the manpower level falls below 95 percent of such number, the police chief shall draft a resolution calling for the commencement of an academy class, and present it to the city council for its review. Upon review by the city council, the city shall commence immediately the hiring process and shall hire sufficient additional police officers to bring the actual manpower level of the police department to such number of sworn police officers; provided, however, that if the difference between the required manpower level and the actual manpower level is less than 15 positions, the actual hiring and training of additional police officers may be deferred, but only until the chief determines that a class for the training of 15 or more officers can be formed and that the police training facilities are available. With the concurrence of city council by council resolution, the enforcement of the requirement of an immediate commencement of the hiring process may be suspended if the manpower level falls below 95 percent of the requisite number during the period of time between the submission by the mayor to the council of the proposed annual operating budget for the next ensuing fiscal year and July 1 of that fiscal year. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or preclude the commencement of the hiring process or the hiring and training of additional police officers from the then current list of qualified applicants before the manpower level falls below 95 percent of the level of manpower to be maintained.
(c) The chief of police shall review the manpower level quarterly and shall submit a report at the end of each quarter to the mayor and public safety committee of city council setting forth the manpower level of the department.
(Code 1968, § 40-21(a); Ord. No. 92-053(sub 1), § 27(e), 7-2-92; Ord. No. 14-035, § 1, 7-10-14)
Source: City of Wilmington, Delaware, City Code, City Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/de/wilmington/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIWICO_CH2AD_ARTVDEAGCROR_DIV1GE_S2-232UNSTPODEFetched: 11/6/2026