I-2. If your question is not here, you may find it elsewhere on this site or under the City of Rehoboth Beach homepage. If your question is still not answered, you can call the police department at (302) 227-2577 and ask for assistance, or you can send e-mail to the police department.

II-2. On average, we hire between 30 and 32 seasonal police officers.

II-3. Starting in January 2000, RBPD officers began a new recruiting drive at local colleges in DE, MD, PA, and VA in an attempt to attract applicants for seasonal police officer positions. It is hoped that this new recruiting program can be expanded in the future.

II-4. Full-time police officers attend the Delaware State Police Academy in Dover for six months and approximately 800 hours of instruction for basic law enforcement officer certification. Upon graduation from the academy, officers are assigned to ride with an experienced officer for a minimum of nine weeks in a field-training program.

II-5. The State of Delaware requires a minimum of 40 hours of training for a seasonal police officer. The RBPD exceeds this minimum requirement, training seasonal officers on the laws of arrest, proper use of force, search and seizure, etc.

II-6. The Rehoboth Beach Police Department is located at 229 Rehoboth Avenue. The Police Department is housed in the same building as City Hall and the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.

II-7. To contact an officer, you may call the dispatcher at (302) 227-2577 and leave a message in the officers voice mail, if the officer is not working. You can also send e-mail to the officer. E-mail addresses are located on the department personnel page.

II-8. If there is a crime in progress, call the police department or 911 and report your observations so an officer can be dispatched. If there is an ongoing problem, advise the dispatcher of the details so an officer can return your call or come to your house and speak with you personally.

II-9. It is important to remember that our police officers work rotating shifts with different days off. You should leave a message for the officer on his/her voice mail, or e-mail. If your attempts are unsuccessful, ask the dispatcher for the officer's supervisor and let them know you have been unable to get in touch with the officer.

II-10. Almost anyone over 18 years of age can ride-along with a police officer. Requests should be made through the Chief of Police. A waiver of liability form is required.

II-11. Yes. If you have had something stolen, or misplaced your wallet, keys, etc., you should call or stop by the police station to see if it has been turned in. All found property will be placed in the property section and you will need to contact a property/evidence officer at (302) 227-2577.

III-2. Most seasonal officers are assigned foot patrol on certain areas of the boardwalk and side streets. Full-time officers patrol the entire city by vehicle. Seasonal bicycle patrol officers also patrol the entire city.

III-3. You must remember that the patrol car is the police officer's "office". This is where the officer works, completes his reports, and sometimes takes his breaks. It is just like your desk or workstation at your place of employment.

III-4. You must contest the ticket in court. No police department personnel or city official can "take back" a ticket. If you receive a traffic ticket, check the top of the ticket to see what court the officer assigned the ticket to. Follow the instructions on the back of the ticket and contact the court at the number on the lower right-hand corner of the ticket.

III-5. No. As with a traffic ticket, it cannot be "taken back". To contest a City of Rehoboth Beach parking ticket, you must contact Alderman's Court #37 at (302) 227-7917 and request a trial.

III-6. Our response time is very quick in the summer and during the off season. Regardless of where the officer is located in the city when you call, generally the officer will arrive at your location within a few minutes. Of course, this depends on the current activity level in the city.

III-7. An officer can take some reports over the telephone if you wish. Minor thefts with no suspects can be taken over the phone. Most officers will prefer to speak with you in person to ensure that all required information is obtained.

IV-2. Crime reports can be obtained through our records division for a fee. In auto crashes, generally your insurance company takes care of obtaining the report after you report the incident to them, which is included in your insurance premium. You should always make sure that you get the officer's name and the report number when you file the report.

IV-3. The best way is to speak with the officer that is investigating your case. In most cases, the officer that responds to take your report is the officer that will investigate your case. If your case is assigned to a detective, you can contact the criminal investigative division at (302) 227-2577.

IV-4. Usually it is the officer that initially took your report. Contact that officer if you have any questions.

IV-5. Seasonal officers are encouraged to make every attempt to close as many of their pending cases as possible before their employment ends. If necessary, your case will be turned over to a full-time officer to continue the investigation.

IV-6. Every possible attempt will be made to contact you. If you have moved or changed your phone number since the report was initially taken, the officer may have difficulty in locating/contacting you. Some cases remain open for a long period of time. It is important to keep in contact with the investigating officer.

IV-7. If a property/evidence officer can identify your property, you will be contacted by mail or by phone to make arrangements to have your property returned. Only property that can be traced back to the owner can be returned. If your property is evidence in a crime, there can be a long delay before your property can be returned.

V-2. Delaware law requires that the operator of a moped have a valid driver's license. All mopeds are also required to be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (i.e. have a valid license plate). A moped is considered a motor vehicle and shall obey all applicable traffic laws.

V-3. The operation/riding of skateboards is prohibited on any sidewalk or street to include the boardwalk from May 15th until September 15th of each year. Skateboards are prohibited from the bandstand year round. 

V-4. No fires, to include bonfires, are permitted on the beach.

V-5. There are no restrictions regarding barbecue grills on a balcony, however, we urge you to use extreme caution and common sense.

V-6. Sleeping in vehicles within the corporate limits of the city is prohibited. 

V-7. There is designated parking on the westbound side of Rehoboth Avenue near Fifth Street (signs are posted). Contact the parking division at (302) 227-6184 for further information.

V-8. Trailers are not permitted to park on any street within the corporate limits of the city, except in designated areas. Contact the parking division at (302) 227-6184 for further information.

V-9. No persons are permitted on the beach between the hours of 1:00am and 5:00am from May 1st until September 30th. 

V-10. Dogs are prohibited from the beach or boardwalk from April 1st until October 31st of each year. This includes leashed dogs and the carrying of dogs. Seeing eye dogs are exempt. 

V-11. Dogs are required to be leashed at all times. 

V-12. Generally any noise loud enough to disturb others is in violation of the city's noise ordinance. This includes vehicle radios, whether the vehicle is in motion or not. There are also decibel level restrictions in commercial districts of 70dBA during the day and 55dBA at night. In residential districts the decibel restrictions are 65dBA during the day and 55dBA at night.

V-13. Open containers of alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the city. 

V-14. Roller-blading and roller-skating are prohibited on the boardwalk and on Rehoboth Avenue from May 15th until September 15th of each year. 

V-15. Delaware law prohibits hitchhiking anywhere within the State of Delaware.

V-16. No vehicles, to include all-terrain vehicles, are permitted on the beach within the corporate limits of the city.

VI-2. We feel that the best kind of lock is a deadbolt lock with at least a one-inch throw. Make sure that the strike plate is a strong one and the screws attaching it to the frame are at least three inches long. It is also a good idea to install a peephole in your front door so you can see who is there before opening the door to a stranger.

VI-3. Sliding glass doors are easy to pry open. You can install an auxiliary lock in the metal frame between both sections of glass by drilling a small hole and inserting a small metal spike. You can also put a brace behind the front panel of the door to prevent it from sliding open.

VI-4. You should always engrave your valuables and electronics so they can be easily identified if stolen and traced back to you as the owner. Engrave then with either your SSN or driver's license number with state. If your property is stolen, the serial numbers are important so the police can track your property. Write down the model and serial numbers to your electronics and keep that information secure.

VI-5. Alarms are great deterrents; however, an experienced burglar can easily defeat them. You should never rely solely on an alarm to keep your home safe. Installing an alarm and following the tips listed in this section is a good place to start in keeping your home safe and secure.

VI-6. Yes, come by the police department and inform the dispatcher that you would like to register your bike. Please remember to bring information from your bicycle such as make, model, serial number, number of gears, color, etc. This service is free of charge.

VI-7. Car thefts are not a major problem in Rehoboth Beach, although it does happen. Remember to keep your doors and windows locked at all times and do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

VI-8. If something does not look right to you, it is suspicious. Concerned citizens reporting suspicious activity can prevent many crimes. You are never bothering the police when you call to report something that does not look right to you. As the old saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry.

VI-9. Rehoboth Beach is a very safe place throughout the year. If you are going to walk alone at night you should always refer to basic safety rules. All streets in Rehoboth Beach are lighted, so remain in well-lit and well-traveled areas, limit the amount of cash on hand, and carry a light with you.

VI-10. We discourage the carrying of any kind of weapon because any weapon that can be used to defend yourself can be used against you. In most cases, the bad guy has the element of surprise and you probably won't have the chance to use it anyway. We recommend carrying a personal alarm or noise-making device to draw attention to you.

VI-11. We have not had any reported carjackings within the corporate limits of the city. However, you can help protect yourself from this by keeping your doors and windows locked and by keeping a close eye on your surroundings as you approach and exit your car.

VI-12. If you are confronted, remember, nothing is more valuable than your safety. Try to remain calm and do as your assailant tells you. It is not always smart to fight or run. You should size up the situation and decide what course of action you should take to keep safe. Do whatever you can to get your assailant to leave as fast as possible.

VI-13. If you are going to be away, you should call the police department and let them know when you are leaving and when you will return. Also make sure that we have your contact information so we may get in touch with you if necessary.

VII-2. Most of the problems we have in Rehoboth Beach are public order crimes such as disorderly conduct, alcohol offenses, and shoplifting. We do not have a lot of serious crime considering the population influx during the summer.

VII-3. Most crimes occur in the "downtown" area to include the boardwalk and close side streets. This is where most of the businesses and restaurants are located, as well as establishments that serve alcoholic beverages.

VII-4. The police department does not have a list of local rental properties. We suggest contacting one of the several local realtors in the area for availability. We would be happy to answer any questions regarding safety to anyone concerned about this.

VII-5. Many high school age individuals come to the beach for spring break and the early summer after the school year ends. Most of them behave themselves. Our main problem with this age group is underage possession or consumption of alcohol. The police department targets and aggressively enforces the law regarding the underage possession or consumption of alcohol and driving under the influence of alcohol.

VII-6. Year after year, Rehoboth Beach is becoming more of a year round community. However, there is nowhere near the amount of people in town in the winter as there is in the summer. Since there are many vacant houses in the off season, officers concentrate patrols throughout the city in order to deter and prevent residential and commercial burglaries from occurring.