Dewey Beach Police Chief Constance Speake sworn in

Dewey Beach Police Chief Constance Speake was officially sworn in to her position during an April 28 ceremony at Lighthouse Cove Convention Center.

Town Manager Bill Zolper said 33 people applied for the position, which became open when former Chief Sam Mackert retired in June. Committees comprising local police chiefs, citizens and business owners narrowed the number of candidates to eight, then four, Zolper said.

Those four candidates were then presented to town commissioners, who interviewed them and ranked them exactly the same as the committees, Zolper said.

“And that’s how Chief Constance Speake got in front of us today,” Zolper said to cheers and applause. “There’s a huge amount of energy coming out of our police department right now. I know we have the right chief.”

After being sworn in by Town Alderman Kelly Pettyjohn, Speake admitted to being a little teary-eyed. She thanked everyone for their support and welcome in making her transition to the new role an easy one.

“I’m so proud to be the chief of police here,” she said.

With more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, Speake held a number of leadership positions in the Laurel Police Department in Maryland, and was most recently deputy sheriff of the Anne Arundel County Office of the Sheriff. 

Speake was officially hired in January, and had to obtain her Delaware Council on Police Training certification before being sworn in.