Our agency was established in 1951 as the Delaware Memorial Bridge Police Department.

In 1962, the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) was created through a Compact between the states of Delaware and New Jersey. The Compact authorized the DRBA to operate the Delaware Memorial Bridge and to form its own police force. DRBA officers were given powers of investigation, detention and arrest on the crossings, transportation or terminal facilities and other projects and the approaches thereto, owned, operated, or controlled by the DRBA. As a result of the compact the Delaware Memorial Bridge Police Department was transformed into the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police.


In 1964, the DRBA began a ferry service between Cape May, New Jersey, and Lewes, Delaware. A full-time police presence was established in April of 1984 when a police troop was opened in Cape May, New Jersey. In January 1986, another troop was opened in Lewes, Delaware.



In May 1995, the Authority entered into a 30-year lease agreement with the New Castle County Council, and in June 1995, the FAA formally approved a lease agreement for the New Castle Airport. This allowed the DRBA to legally take over airport management and operations. The Authority’s airport division, now operates five airports in Delaware and New Jersey (New Castle, Dover, Millville, and Cape May.)

In November 1996, the department reached a major milestone by receiving the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies' national accreditation award. In November 2005, the Department was reaccredited by CALEA.

Today, DRBA officers patrol the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and their access highways and the business complex surrounding the New Castle Airport.