State police launching Instagram account, will reveal name of newest bloodhounds

RICHMOND – The Virginia State Police is launching an official Instagram account on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. in a very big way!  The VSP account at instagram.com/virginia state police is now “live” on the photo-sharing app platform and at 11 a.m. Thursday will feature as its first post – a sneak preview of the names selected for the Department’s two newest bloodhounds.

Last month, state police invited the public to send in via Facebook their favorite names for the floppy-eared siblings. The Department’s K-9 Training Unit considered over  3,300 pairs of suggested names and narrowed them down to five for final consideration. Just shy of 1,500 Facebook followers cast their votes and the winning pair of names will be revealed on all three state police social media platforms by noon Thursday.

The Virginia State Police established itself on YouTube in 2009 and Facebook in 2010. A @VSPPIO Twitter page followed five years later. Today, the state police engages with more than 180,000 Facebook followers, approximately 13,500 Twitter followers and 1,500 YouTube viewers worldwide.

“Adding Instagram to the Virginia State Police social media portfolio enables us to reach a much greater audience with our key traffic safety messaging, crime prevention outreach, investigative alerts and recruitment efforts…and, of course, more photos of our canines,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “We look forward to engaging with the public via Instagram and sharing even more about the state police and our mission in service and safety to others.”

Instagram followers who connect with state police by 11 a.m. Thursday will be among the first to find out the winning names for the 11-week-old brother and sister bloodhounds pictured with Colonel Settle.