State Police Hold
Open House
By Sara Nelson

In celebration of their 60th anniversary, the Vermont state police have been holding open houses at each of their 12 stations, and this weekend is Royalton’s turn.

This Saturday, Sept. 29, the public is invited to visit the Royalton station and its troopers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. VSP special team equipment will be on display, refreshments will be served, and employment information will be available.

"We want to show people that we’re involved with the community, and we’re opening up communications and making the streets as safe as possible," said station commander Bill Hartness.

Hartness said that the relatively new barracks building has been helpful in fostering a good relationship with the community. The 2005 building houses several other agencies, including the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and also has a conference room that is open to the public.

"It’s been great for getting to know people, and for letting people know that we’re here to support them all the time, not just when things go wrong," Hartness said.

Hartness also said he hopes people considering a career with the state police would stop by to talk to a trooper or dispatcher about the job.

"We’re always on a recruitment drive," he said.

"I think people aren’t aware of everything we do. The good thing about working here is that you can do it all. We don’t just write tickets. It’s a very well rounded job with a lot of variety."

Lost Student

The history of the state police goes back to the unsolved disappearance of a Bennington College student in 1946. Lacking the resources to investigate the case, the state called in investigators from Connecticut and New York, but the student was never found.

The tragedy spurred the Vermont legislature to form its own state police agency that would hopefully have the resources to solve such cases in the future.

Major General Merritt A. Edson, a former U.S. Marine and World Waw II hero from Rutland, was chosen to serve as the first commissioner and was sworn into office on July 1, 1947.

Under Edson’s leadership, the agency was organized as a semi-military operation, and to this day VSP troopers wear a uniform modeled on that of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The agency has grown considerably since Edson presided over a force of 55 troopers and seven civilian employees. Today the Vermont state police ranks include approximately 470 troopers and civilian staff, who comprise the largest law enforcement agency in the state.

State police provide primary police services for 200 towns, half the population, and 90% of the land mass of Vermont. State police special teams also provide tactical, K-9, hostage negotiation, scuba team, bomb squad, search & rescue and crowd control support for other law enforcement agencies.

VSP director, Colonel James Baker stated, "Many things have changed in 60 years, but throughout the history of the Vermont State Police we have had the ability to provide outstanding service based upon the high character of individuals that we employ."