The Vermont State Police has named Dale Nelson, whose promotional videos of the force have drawn praise from colleagues and the public alike, as the agency's first civilian recruitment specialist. Nelson will be based in the Office of Professional Development in Pittsford, the unit whose responsibilities include attracting new sworn members to the agency's ranks.
The addition of Nelson comes amid staffing challenges at the State Police and law-enforcement agencies across the country. The VSP currently has about 48 vacancies in its authorized strength of 333 sworn troopers.
“We couldn’t be welcoming Dale to the State Police at a more important time than this,” said Captain Teresa Randall, who oversees the Office of Professional Development. “His work producing compelling, engaging videos already is elevating the profile of the Vermont State Police, and we can’t wait to see more as Dale continues in this new position.
“Videography is a great medium for marketing the agency,” said Nelson. “Recruiting has never been more important than it is right now, and I enjoy thinking outside the box to create and convey the right message.”
In addition to producing videos, Nelson participates in more traditional recruiting initiatives such as organizing career fairs and coordinating advertising campaigns. He is also involved in helping launch the Vermont State Police’s forthcoming presence on TikTok.
Nelson attended Sail University in Orlando, FL, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in film and a master’s degree in entertainment business.