Sheriff’s office uses vehicle for recruiting
Recruiters want graduates to keep law enforcement in mind
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office recently revealed it’s new wrapped SUV promoting recruitment to the sheriff’s office.
The agency’s recruiter, Jesse Williams III, will be driving the vehicle around the county as well as outside the county to help promote the sheriff’s office and let people know they are hiring.
“We are really excited to have this vehicle on the road and visible for people to see,” Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry (D) said.
“Clearly, we hope that when someone does see it, they might consider a career with our agency. We are constantly looking for qualified people to fill positions in our sworn, corrections and civilian employment opportunities, and so our messaging through this SUV is a good way to remind people to consider us when thinking about a career,” Berry said.
“With getting this vehicle, we want that mom or dad to see that vehicle and say ‘oh I have a kid that could probably be into law enforcement’ and go home and pass that information on,” Stephine Gregory, supervisor of the Recruiting and Pre-Employment Investigation Unit, said.
Gregory said that the agency did not have a recruiting unit until 2016 and in 2017, they hired an actual recruiter, Williams, who goes out to different events with officers, as well as all the high schools, colleges and job fairs.
“We want to get our name out there a little more, and we’re always trying to up the previous year [of how many recruitments the agency receives],” Gregory said.
Williams said he hopes with driving this new recruitment vehicle, more people come up to him wanting to inquire about joining the agency. He said when people approach him in public or at an event, he will be there to answer questions, provide information, as well as give them pamphlets and a card.
“I also direct them to our website where they can apply and submit their application,” Williams said.
Gregory said that the recruiting unit visits local schools often, and Williams visited many Charles County schools on the students’ last day to remind them that the sheriff’s office could be an option for their future career.
The sheriff’s office accepts correctional officers at the detention center starting at the age of 18, which is something that Gregory said many people do not know.
She said that there are many young people who start off as a correctional officer at 18 and as soon as they turn 21, they go to the police side as an officer.
Gregory said that the message she has for recent high school graduates is to keep their head on the right path and that it’s not a “fault” to not go to college. She said to keep being an officer in law enforcement in mind when thinking about options for the future.
“I think it’s a great stepping stone for anybody, especially for our young generation,” Gregory said.
“Just having the exposure and going from place to place, it’s going to let people know that we are hiring,” Williams said.