CITY OF DOVER DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
400 SOUTH QUEEN STREET
DOVER, DELAWARE 19904
302-736-7111
Chief of Police
THOMAS A. JOHNSON, JR.
Deputy Chief of Police
PAUL D. KUNTZI
Police Captains
RANDY R. ROBBINS
ROBERT E. ROSWELL
KEVIN A. STREADWICK
14 August 2025
Recently, there has been a small, but vocal group of individuals, using Dover City Council meetings to push dramatic claims of police misconduct. So far, in almost every instance, there is no evidence associated with the claim other than “A constituent said”. The same proxy speakers are coming month after month with their hearsay information, in what appears to be a coordinated effort to cast doubt on the great work my Officers do EVERY single day. This narrative distracts us from the real crime problems facing our community right now: gang violence and youth offenders, which is putting our families at a far greater risk than what these speakers are willing to admit. Instead of working to address these issues, this group would rather complain about officers doing their due-diligence. The continued negative rhetoric only serves to undermine the trust and cooperation we need from the community to keep Dover safe.
Activist individuals are using these unsubstantiated claims of police misconduct to advance a political agenda after failing to achieve their legislative goals in 2023. These efforts appear coordinated in order to make Dover, and its police department, a “manufactured example” of systemic failure. This distracts from the department’s strong record of professionalism, extensive training, and its superior crime clearance rates. The department remains committed to evidence-based public safety solutions, transparency that respects legal limits, and addressing all legitimate complaints through proper channels.
The Dover Police Department will not be baited into any unproductive public argument regarding its response to calls for service or its proactive enforcement efforts. We have a job to do. Our team members will continue to use all lawful means to protect the public and our supervisors will continue to provide the necessary oversight to ensure that those efforts are both effective and constitutionally conscious. The problems in Dover are serious and the Dover PD is serious about solving them.
Very respectfully,
Thomas A. Johnson, Jr.
Chief of Police
Image Credits: File
