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General Information about the Patrol DivisionThe Patrol Division of the VCU Police Department consists of 84 sworn personnel. Each officer has completed training mandated by the Department of Criminal Justice Services. All officers are empowered by state law to carry firearms, conduct criminal investigations, make arrests, and testify in court. The Patrol Division, listed as building 43 on the Academic Campus map, is located at 938 West Grace Street in Richmond.
Routine Police ServicesThe Patrol Division is staffed by police officers who work permanent shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their service to the community includes patrol of each campus with marked and unmarked police cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and on foot; response to emergency and non-emergency incidents; crime prevention services; and traffic control and enforcement.
The Bike PatrolVCU is partially patrolled by police officers utilizing mountain bikes. These officers are certified through training offered by the International Police Mountain Bike Association. The use of mountain bikes for patrol duty is quiet, cost efficient and amazingly effective; mountain bikes are able to bridge the gap between automobiles and foot patrol. The Bike patrol serves as a way of providing enhanced community policing on campus.
The Foot PatrolOn foot officers patrol two beats, or sectors, on the Academic Campus, and three beats on the MCV Campus. These officers provide increased patrol on the inside of the University buildings. They also are able to concentrate on a smaller sector than that of a mobile unit to insure high visibility. The mobile officers periodically go on foot patrol to check buildings in their sector.
The Mobile PatrolEach campus is patrolled by officers in a mobile unit. The VCU police cars are visibly marked. Each officer has had special EVOC training in order to operate the vehicles safely for emergency responses. Some officers are RADAR certified to better enforce traffic laws. In partnership with the City of Richmond Police Department, these patrol units also cover neighboring communities where many students and staff live.
Motor OfficersThe VCU Police Department utilizes motorcycles on both the VCU campus and MCV campus. RADAR certified motor officers enforce the speed limits of each campus. They also assist in daily traffic problems related to congestion and construction.
K 9Strider, a Golden Retriever, and K-9 handler Officer Marvin A. Wingo are sniffing for marijuana, cocaine and heroin during evening and early morning hours when most drug activity occurs. They hit the streets July 14, 2003 after graduating from the Richmond Police Department's Canine Detector School. See the VCU News article for more information. More photos here.
Reporting CrimesThough about 98 percent of all crimes at VCU are thefts, any crime or suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the VCU Police Department by calling 828-1234. A simple five-minute delay means that the chance of capturing a criminal drops by two-thirds. Remember - It always pays to prosecute.