The Downtown area is patrolled in a collaborative effort between the Wilmington Police Department and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. The Downtown Task Force was created in 2011 between these two agencies in order to practice zero tolerance for offenses, proactive policing to address issues, and to create a safer environment for the public by reducing crime.

The Downtown Task Force utilizes Mounted Patrol, foot patrols, bike patrols, Segway patrols, as well as vehicle patrols to accomplish these goals and build working relationships with residents in the community, business owners and their employees, and regular patrons to the area.