Delaware
Delaware 911 system adds live video streaming, photo sharing capabilities
Community engagement, coordination has led to a reduction of shootings in New Castle County
Col. Jamie Leonard, the new Chief of the New Castle County Police Department, says community engagement and coordination has led to a reduction of shootings. 2/3/25
Delaware is upgrading its Enhanced 911 system to include features that will allow callers to stream live video, send photos and use real-time text translation during emergencies. These enhancements are designed to improve communication between callers and first responders, enabling faster and more effective emergency response.
With the upgraded system, 911 callers will be able to share images directly from their phones, stream live video and communicate through real-time translated text. The system includes TTY capabilities and is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Authorities say these capabilities will help dispatchers better assess emergencies such as vehicle crashes, medical incidents and fire scenes.
Public demonstration of new E911 in Dover
The Dover Police Department is among the first in the nation to adopt the upgraded technology, according to state officials. Gov. Matt Meyer and Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Joshua Bushweller will attend a demonstration of the system’s new capabilities at the Dover Police Department on April 17.
All municipalities are already connected to the Enhanced 911 system, and the state’s Public Safety Answering Points are expected to fully implement the new features by 2026.
How E911 calls are handled
The Enhanced 911 system automatically displays a caller’s location and phone number at a public safety answering point, which handles emergency calls in their designated coverage areas. Delaware operates nine PSAPs, each responsible for answering all 911 calls in their respective regions. To ensure timely response, the system requires PSAPs to transfer calls to the appropriate agency within 10 seconds.
Delaware voters first approved the creation of the Enhanced 911 system in 1988. It is funded through a 60-cent monthly surcharge on telephone lines, established by the state Legislature in 1994.
You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.
Delaware
Third Circuit Dismisses Delaware Appeal in DHS Records Clash
A federal appeals court will no longer hear a dispute between Delaware and the Department of Homeland Security over a subpoena for wage data from 15 businesses in the state.
The case is moot after Delaware officials turned over relevant employer records on May 28, Delaware Department of Justice attorneys told the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in an unopposed motion Thursday to dismiss the appeal.
The Third Circuit granted that motion the same day.
Delaware’s Department of Labor had opposed the DHS subpoena aimed at work-site enforcement investigations. State officials, including Gov. Matt Meyer (D) and …
Delaware
City of Wilmington moves forward with evicting homeless park residents
What are journalists missing from the state of Delaware? What would you most like WHYY News to cover? Let us know.
The city of Wilmington said Thursday that homeless residents of Christina Park must be gone by sunset Monday. Then, officials said they will erect a perimeter fence to block anyone from entering the site.
Wilmington officials issued eviction notices last month to park inhabitants about a month after requiring them to use city tents. The first tents were flimsy and failed during their first night in use after an overnight downpour, prompting the city to purchase sturdier replacements for residents.
When asked at a news conference whether park residents have been informed about the sunset deadline for leaving, Daniel Walker, Mayor John Carney’s deputy chief of staff, said they told the park’s site manager, the Friendship House, a local nonprofit.
Local housing advocate Meryem Dede, who heads the nonprofit TideShift Justice, said communications from the city have been changing day to day.
“The biggest thing is there’s just mass confusion in the park on what’s happening,” Dede said.
Carney’s office is highlighting the number of homeless park residents it says it is working to place in temporary housing or treatment programs.
Walker said out of 85 park residents, it has placed, or is trying to place, about 52 people in some kind of temporary housing or treatment program. City and Friendship House staff say park residents have been connected to beds at the New Castle Hope Center, a New Castle motel, as well as other shelters and treatment programs. A few people have also found permanent housing or plan to stay with family or friends.
Walker said that leaves 31 residents, with 12 of those interested in supportive services. But that still leaves 19 people who he said don’t want to leave the park.
Carney said they are trying to convince them to leave by the deadline.
“What we have to offer is better than a tent in Christina Park, and so getting people to make that choice, to take that step, is a big deal,” he said.
Those who fail to leave the park could face arrest. But Carney and other city officials would not spell out how they will get people who don’t want to leave to depart without the use of force.
Delaware
Delaware Municipal Leaders Launch Statewide AI Committee – 47abc
DELAWARE – Municipal leaders and technology partners gathered for the inaugural meeting of the Government Artificial Intelligence, Technology & Ethics (G.A.T.E.) Committee, a new statewide collaborative focused on the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in government operations.
The committee, initially led by the City of Milford Information Technology (IT) Department, is set to serve as a government AI roundtable, open to municipalities, counties, public agencies, emergency services organizations, and technology partners. Currently participating entities include:
- City of Milford
- City of Dover
- Sussex County
- Kent County
- New Castle County
- Town of Bethany Beach
- City of Rehoboth Beach
- Town of Bridgeville
- Town of Millsboro
- Town to Townsend
- Village of Arden
- Town of Greenwood
- Carlisle Fire Company
- Lewes Board of Public Works
- Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation
- SHI
- Market America
- Wagamon Technology
“AI is not here to replace our talented employees, it’s here to support them,” Milford City Manager Christopher Coleman said. “Humans must always have the final say in reports, decisions, and public-facing projects.”
At the inaugural meeting, Milford IT Director Bill Pettigrew led discussions on AI governance, policy development, security considerations, and practical use cases for local government. Presentations reportedly included demonstrations of Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, along with discussions on prompt engineering, AI policy development, and municipal implementation strategies.
The GATE Committee plans to meet again virtually on Jul. 14 at 8:30 a.m., and will feature additional demonstrations and discussions on AI implementation in government services.
-
Technology5 minutes agoNothing CEO says phone prices are going to keep going up
-
World8 minutes agoMike Waltz says Gulf allies back Trump’s Iran pressure campaign after regional trip: ‘Zero daylight’
-
Politics13 minutes agoClinton judge indefinitely blocks Trump’s $1.776B anti-weaponization fund
-
Health20 minutes agoWoman’s unexpected turnaround in Alzheimer’s symptoms follows psychedelic use
-
Sports23 minutes agoWorld Cup Buzz: Neymar Out For Brazil’s Match Against Morocco On Saturday
-
Technology28 minutes agoGoogle wants to release millions of mosquitoes
-
Business35 minutes agoParamount’s $111-billion Warner Bros. acquisition clears key hurdle
-
Entertainment38 minutes agoESPN’s coverage of 2026 NBA Finals is setting ratings records for ABC