New Dover Police recruitment video highlights the force
By DOVER - Seeking more applicants and increased diversity among job candidates, the Dover Police Department unveiled a recruitment video this week designed to attract them.
During a 4 minute, 22 second presentation, six officers describe reasons for joining the force, what drives them now, the interdepartmental work culture and more.
The video is posted on the department’s doverpolice.org website along with Twitter and Facebook.
Connecting with the community is a recurring theme, and officers express a particular interest in reaching out to youth within the city to help shape their view of law enforcement around them.
“I feel like the favorite part of the job for me is working with the kids in and out of the schools, working with them directly, building relationships through events and working with the community,” Cpl. Anthony Smith said.
Increasing diversity is an emphasis as well, and Patrolwoman Erin Marshall shared that “I feel as a Black female I’m making a huge difference.
“Every complaint someone recognizes that I’m new to the force, they recognize that I’m a Black female. I feel like that’s the biggest impact right now.”
For Patrolwoman First Class Melissa Ragona, “When I went to college I didn’t know what I wanted to do.
“Playing sports my entire life, every day when I put on my uniform on is like game day. You go out and give it your all.”
And when she’s on duty, Officer Ragona said, “We talk to people when it's their worst day.
“When we can make an impact seeing people’s personality change throughout it when they’re upset, I think that’s something I appreciate most about the job.”
Also taking part were Patrolman First Class Strovensvolv LaRochelle, and Patrolmen Joshua Hebert and Thomas Rivera. Officers LaRochelle and Hebert noted their local roots of growing up in the Dover area.
As to the work culture within the agency, Patrolman Hebert described it as being “a good place, good working environment.
“You walk down the hallway and everyone’s always friendly. As long as you put in the work and are a hard worker and they know that, and you’re decent to people, you’re going to fit right in.”
The video was produced by the Odessa-based Epic Marketing Consultants Corporation. It took a day and half to record, beginning on June 30, and then six months to create the final product, spokesperson Master Cpl. Ryan Schmid said.
Police estimated the cost of production at around $12,000 and said it was funded by grant money and the agency’s marketing budget.
Dover Police currently have 103 officers and an authorized strength of 109. The department has requested an authorized strength of 111 to better serve the downtown area, Cpl. Schmid said.
“But in challenging economic conditions, that will need to wait so City Council has an opportunity to identify the funds to support the additional staff,” he said.
According to Chief Tom Johnson, the officers volunteered to participate and “were encouraged to say what was in the heart. No mandatory script was issued.”
And as for the public’s reception, Chief Johnson said, “My hope is that the viewer will see a confident, professional and service-oriented agency.
“My hope is that the prospective applicant will see a department committed to community policing, the well-being of its workforce, diversity, professional development, and the best practices in public safety which honor our great traditions while at the same time embracing 21st century innovation.”
Finding quality candidates to join the force these days is an acute concern both in Delaware's capital city and far beyond, Chief Johnson said.
“Communities from around the country and all over Delaware are experiencing great difficulty with recruiting and retaining officers,” he said.
“In the search for qualified candidates, police leadership has found itself in a place where we not only have to make our departments attractive to applicants, we have to restore the reputation of the profession in the eyes of a generation that has been absorbing a steady diet of anti-law enforcement rhetoric.
“This has always been an honorable profession with a strong legacy of both protecting and serving our respective communities.
“Delaware has a great law enforcement community. The women and men who risk their safety and reputations each day are first class individuals.”
For more information on Dover Police employment or to download an application, visit doverpolice.org/careers. The department is currently accepting applications for the spring 2023 hiring process.
The department will host a “How to Succeed in the Hiring Process” seminar on Saturday, Jan. 21, beginning at 9 a.m.
The session is open to anyone interested in becoming a Dover Police officer and will include information about the hiring process, application assistance, specialized units of the agency, and a tour of the police department.
No submitted application or registration for the event is required. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. and close promptly at 9 a.m. with no late admittance permitted. The seminars typically end by 11 a.m.
For questions, call Sgt. Joseph Bauer at 302-736-7116. The city of Dover and Dover Police Department are equal opportunity employers.
