Bobby Cummings was sworn in as Wilmington Police Chief on Friday.
Cummings had been serving as interim chief .
Mayor Dennis Williams had stated in his election campaign that he would go outside the department for a new chief but has twice gone back to a member of the department in making his final selection. Williams is a former city police officer.
The first chief of his administration Christine Dunning, resigned her post and later took a position in New Castle County government. Dunning, at times, had been the target of criticism from Williams.
Cummings will be closely watched by the business community and other groups to see if he can bring about more dramatic change in the department, which has been criticized for not moving fast enough to embrace new strategies in fighting a wave of homicides in some neighborhoods.
The counter argument has been that a new chief would have to spend several months to a year learning about Wilmington.
Based on 2012 figures, the city has been rated as the most dangerous small city in the nation, based on FBI figures for violent crime.
Williams, for his part, has been criticized for seeking more police resources in downtown in an effort to placate the business community, rather than focusing on troubled neighborhoods.
Members of the City Council have been divided on the issue of whether to go outside the department for a new chief.
