As we bid farewell to 2023, the New Castle County Division of Police would like to take a moment to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and progress that defined the past year. It has been a year of dedication, collaboration, and resilience, and we are proud to share our year in review with the community we serve.
The men and women of the New Castle County Division of Police remained steadfast and dedicated. This year, officers handled over 99,000 calls for service. During those calls, multiple investigations were initiated resulting in over 18,000 criminal charges. Officers also diligently investigated 795 vehicle thefts during the year. This number is concerning as it shows over a 100 percent increase in vehicle thefts from the year prior. Our officers worked to investigate, process evidence, recover stolen vehicles, and arrest perpetrators. Vehicle theft continues to be a problem across the entire country due to juvenile offenders, new technology, and viral crime trends.
Our commitment to building strong relationships with the community remained constant throughout 2023. The positive interactions and feedback we received have been invaluable in strengthening the bond between law enforcement and the community. Our Community Services Unit and officers attended, hosted, or organized over 350 community-building events. Some of our biggest events this year were Trunk or Treat, National Night Out, and Coats and Cops. All the events saw a record turnout and that was all made possible by our officers and the community for their trust and participation. The Community Services Unit is also now accepting applications for the Citizen’s Police Academy which is scheduled for February 2024. To date, we’ve had 225 members graduate from CPA. CSU also helped distribute 550 wheel locks this year to help cut down on vehicle thefts across the county.
Since January 1, 2023, the Mental Health Unit has made 1,780 contacts with individuals experiencing mental health issues. 604 of those calls were dispatched to the Behavioral Health Unit/Co-Responder Units. There were also 37 new enrollments to our Hero Help Program. Officers assigned to BHU were also proactive throughout the year by attending community outreach programs and providing training to law enforcement officers.
We are still looking to add additional qualified and committed officers in the upcoming year. In 2023 recruit officers from the 50th police academy graduated and joined our patrol division. The 51st police academy began in September and is currently still in session. The Division also added new recruitment benefits this year to include a lateral transfer program and a $15,000 to $25,000 hiring bonus.
As we look ahead to the new year, the New Castle County Division of Police remains committed to serving and protecting our community. We are eager to build upon the successes of 2023, address new challenges, and continue working together. Thank you for your ongoing support, collaboration, and trust.
We wish you all a safe and prosperous New Year.
###