By John R Alstadt, Jr.

April 28, 1923, marks the birth of the Delaware State Police.

Discussions occurred as early as 1906 for a statewide police organization to cope with speeding automobiles, roving bands of troublemakers, and the ever-present bootleggers. Prohibition and the 18th Amendment brought the discussion to the forefront.

With the hiring of Charles J. McGarigle and Joseph A. McVey, the Delaware Highway Police Department came to fruition on January 1, 1920.

Using many never-before-published photographs from the Delaware State Police Museum archive, Images of America: Delaware State Police illustrates the storied past of the Delaware State Police from 1920 to 1985.