Charles “Chuck” Griffin was Delaware’s first Black police Chief. In 1971 he was hired to lead the police force in Delaware City. At the time, the position was part-time, 8 p.m.-4 a.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. to midnight on weekends. News accounts show he put in 40-50 hours a week despite his part-time yearly pay of $7,350. “Those extra hours are given to the town. The less I get, the more money is available for my men,” he was quoted as saying. Griffin’s post ended in 1980 when Delaware City officials dissolved the force to opt for coverage by Delaware State Police.
In 2014 former Delaware State Police (DSP) Major David Baylor became the second African American to serve as Police Chief in Delaware City. Baylor, a 23-year veteran with DSP, took the position as chief in Delaware City having served many positions with DSP. As a corporal, he was the Public Information Officer for the force, worked on the governor’s protection unit, and was a troop commander before moving up in the ranks as a Major. After serving for six years as the Chief of Police for Delaware City, Baylor was named the City Manager there, also becoming the first African American to assume that role.
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