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Dover Police Chief James E. Hosfelt, Jr. Announces Retirement 3-4-2014

Dover Police Department

Chief James Hosfelt

Chief James Hosfelt
Photo Courtesy of Hermance Imaging ©

    Chief James E. Hosfelt, Jr. of the Dover Police Department officially announced his retirement on Tuesday, March 4th.  His retirement will be effective April 4, 2014.  Hosfelt is a 25 year veteran of the Dover Police Department, serving in a multitude of capacities within the department.  In a statement to the City of Dover and department employees, Hosfelt stated: “My 25 year career with the Dover Police Department has been an incredible journey and I am very grateful to everyone who has played a part in my success.  God has blessed me in so many ways and I have so much to be thankful for, especially the opportunity to have been a Dover Police Officer.  I consider myself fortunate to have worked with each of you throughout my career.”

Rising Through the Ranks:    Chief Hosfelt’s tenure as Chief of the Dover Police Department culminates over 32 years of dedicated service to the public.  Hosfelt served in the United States Air Force from 1980-1987 and began his law enforcement career with the City of Dover Police Department in September of 1988, where he served as a patrolman on the Patrol Unit until 1992.  In 1992, Chief Hosfelt earned the rank of Patrolman First Class and became a member of  the Dover Police Academy Staff, helping to train new officers hired on the department.  Chief Hosfelt then served as a detective in the department’s Criminal Investigations Unit from 1994-1995. Hosfelt earned the rank of Corporal in 1995 and served in the Patrol Unit for six years until 2002 when he transferred to the Special Enforcement Division/Motorcycle Unit from 2003-2004. In 2005, he became a Sergeant and served on the Drugs, Vice, and Organized Crime (DVOC) Unit from 2005-2006.  Hosfelt’s work led to his promotion to Lieutenant in 2007, where he served as the Criminal Investigations Unit Commander.  In 2008, Hosfelt earned the rank of Captain and took over as the Operations Division Commander for the Dover Police Department.  Chief Hosfelt continued his steady climb through the ranks in 2009, when he earned the rank of Major and served as the Deputy Chief under then Chief Jeffrey Horvath.  Chief Horvath retired in March of 2010 and Hosfelt was appointed as the Chief of Police of the Dover Police Department on April 1st, 2010, where has has served for the last four years.  During Chief Hosfelt’s tenure he led a 124 employee department, 93 of which were sworn officers.  Hosfelt also headed the department during a time when numerous officers and civilians retired from their careers, having to hire 27 new employees in his four years as Chief of Police.   Chief Hosfelt’s retirement is official on April 4, 2014 and caps off a storied career of loyal public service to the Dover community and our country.

Career Highlights:

  • National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) Adjunct Staff (1996-2008)
  • N.R.A. Officer of the Year (1998)
  • Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Lodge 15 President (2000-2004)
  • F.O.P. National Trustee to the Grand Lodge (2007-2009)
  • FBI National Academy Graduate (2010)
  • Vice Chairman of the Delaware Police Chief’s Council (Present)
  • Date of Hire: September 1988
  • Patrolman Rank: 1988-1992
  • Patrolman 1st Class: 1992-1996
  • Corporal: 1996-2005
  • Sergeant (Drugs, Vice, and Organized Crime Unit Supervisor) : 2005-2007
  • Lieutenant: (Criminal Investigations Unit Commander) 2007-2008
  • Captain: (DPD Operations Division Commander) 2008-2009
  • Major: (Deputy Chief of the Dover Police Department) 2009-2010
  • Chief of the Dover Police Department: April 1, 2010-April 4, 2014

Future Plans:    Chief Hosfelt has advised that he plans to take a position in the private industry and plans to spend more time with his family.  Hosfelt has been married to his wife Sherry, a teacher at William Henry Middle School, since 1982 (32 years).  Chief Hosfelt also has two children, daughter Jenna Starke who is a nurse and son Jacob Hosfelt, who followed in his father’s footsteps and serves in the United States Air Force.

Statement from the Dover Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 15:                                    “On behalf of the Dover Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 15, we would like to thank Chief Hosfelt for his 25 years of dedicated service to the City of Dover Police Department, the citizens it serves, and the officers he represents.  We congratulate Chief Hosfelt on his retirement from an excellent career and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

                                               -David Gist (President)

Plans for the Police Department:  The Dover City Charter specifies that the city mayor is responsible for the police department and the selection of the new Chief of Police.  Mayor Carleton Carey has indicated that he plans to select the new Dover Police Chief prior to Chief Hosfelt’s departure and that he intends to hire within the department.  At this time Major Paul Bernat, Captain Timothy Stump, and Captain Robert Scott are eligible candidates for the position.