Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security seeks $3.2 million in FY26 capital for radios, shelters and facilities

Secretary Josh Bushweller, head of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security, told the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement that his agency is requesting funding for a mix of repairs, technology refreshes and facility projects in its FY26 capital request.

Bushweller opened his presentation by thanking executive staff and identifying senior leaders joining him, then summarized completed and in-progress work before describing the five recommended FY26 capital items. “I appear before you today to present the FY 26 capital improvement budget recommended items for the Department of Safety and Homeland Security,” he said.

Why it matters: the department manages state police troops, emergency management, forensic science, radio communications and other public-safety functions. The projects Bushweller described affect first-response capabilities, vehicle- and personnel-support infrastructure and equipment used directly in emergency operations across the state.

Most immediate items

- Minor capital improvements (MCI). The department forecasts $700,000 for routine repairs and maintenance across State Police troops and facilities to address lighting upgrades, HVAC design and replacements, parking-lot resurfacing, interior and exterior renovations, electrical and plumbing repairs, and security upgrades.

- Radio shelter replacement and 800 MHz system improvements. The backbone shelters for the statewide 800 megahertz radio network house critical equipment; the department said the goal is replacing shelter structures with all-concrete units over three years. Funding of $1,000,000 is recommended in FY26 to replace one shelter. Bushweller also described the recent system refresh, noting the upgrade to TDMA that “provides double the capacity for our current 800 megahertz radio system.”

- Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) building study and subsequent multi-year improvements. A $1,000,000 request in FY26 would begin architectural and engineering work and address priority repairs (HVAC, uninterruptible power supply and generator needs); additional requests of $1,000,000 in FY27 and $11,000,000 in FY28 were described as part of a three-year program to bring the 26-year-old facility up to need.

- Division of Communications (DivCom) radio shop renovations. Bushweller called the facility “decrepit, outdated, and old,” citing water leaks, a need for a new roof and replacement of rusted siding, and interior remodels tied to workforce consolidation. The department recommended $1,500,000 for renovation.

- Mobile computer replacement lease. The department recommended $257,900 for year three of a five-year lease to replace in-vehicle mobile computers used by local law enforcement patrol vehicles.

Other updates and context

- Aviation and first-responder upgrades. Bushweller reported the Delaware State Police added two Bell 429 helicopters in November 2024 and said the aircraft enable medevac, law-enforcement support and search-and-rescue missions. He noted paramedics can now carry and administer whole blood on the aircraft and said Delaware is the first state to deploy that capability on that airframe.

- Troop facilities. The new Troop 6 facility was said to be nearing completion and projected to be operational in June 2025; construction also is underway on Troop 4 near Georgetown and a feasibility/design phase for a replacement building in Wilmington (Emily Bissell site) is under way to support a 30-year growth plan. An IT section relocation and alcohol & tobacco enforcement facility in Harrington were also discussed.

- System longevity and planning. Bushweller described the 800 megahertz refresh as a long-term project whose technology continues to evolve, creating both opportunities and needs for ongoing investment.

Quotes and sourcing

- “With the latest additions, DSP now has a total 4 Bell 429 helicopters across our state,” Secretary Josh Bushweller said as he highlighted the aviation additions and medical capability.

- On radios: “TDMA technology… provides double the capacity for our current 800 megahertz radio system,” Bushweller said.

Meeting discussion and committee response

Committee members praised personnel and local troop engagement; Major Lloyd, Troop leadership and multiple legislators thanked the department for community policing work around events such as Kirkwood cruise night. Questions focused on timeline and priorities, including Troop 6’s opening date (Bushweller stated a June 2025 target) and the DEMA study’s role in prioritizing HVAC, UPS and generator needs.

No formal votes were recorded during the presentation.

Ending

Bushweller closed by asking the committee for continued support and offered to answer questions; committee members followed with remarks of appreciation for the department’s work and requests for follow-up details on timelines and specific equipment replacement costs.