About the Department
VCU is home to one of the largest university police departments in the country, with 95 sworn officers, more than 200 security personnel, an on-campus dispatch center and an accredited training academy. The VCU Police Department is accredited by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).
Collaboration, partnerships and problem-solving are essential to public safety at VCU. The VCU Police Department works closely with local and federal law enforcement entities to create a safe learning and working environment for students, faculty and staff.
You will see VCU police officers on the Monroe Park Campus, on the MCV campus and at the VCU Medical Center. We are here to protect and serve the VCU community.
Mission Statement
The mission of the VCU Police Department is to provide a safe and secure learning, living and working environment for the students, faculty, staff and visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University.
This will be accomplished through the development of various community-based crime prevention strategies and initiatives in conjunction with traditional law enforcement and progressive community policing practices. All members of the department will provide the highest levels of courtesy and customer service to the community.
VCU Police Divisions
Division of Emergency Management
VCU’s Division of Emergency Management works with the VCU community and regional partners to ensure the university is prepared for emergencies and disasters of all types. This office creates the University’s Crisis and Emergency Management Plan, Continuity of Operations Plan, and many other planning documents, in addition to providing planning support to individual units and departments within the university. To test emergency plans and increase the university's overall preparedness, this office conducts regular training and exercises. The Division of Emergency Management also manages VCU’s emergency notification and warning systems, VCU’s Incident Coordination Team, and the Emergency Operations Center.
Division of Investigations
The Investigations division is responsible for the investigation of all criminal offenses, internal investigations and plain-clothes operations. Detectives investigate all serious criminal offenses.
Division of Patrol Operations
The Division of Patrol Operations is staffed by 61 police officers and 12 supervisors who patrol each campus with marked and unmarked police cars, bicycles and on foot; respond to emergency and non-emergency incidents; offer crime prevention services and provide traffic control and enforcement.
Division of Support Services
The Division of Support Services includes both the Investigations Unit and the Police Academy. The Investigations Unit is responsible for the investigation of all criminal offenses, internal investigations and plain-clothes operations. The Victim Witness Officers are an extension of this Unit. These specially trained officers are dedicated to reducing the trauma, frustration and inconvenience experienced by victims and witnesses of crimes. The VCU Police Academy is a fully accredited academy that provides professional law enforcement training and certification for new officers as well as specialized and in-service training for all members of the VCU Police department. The academy also provides safety related training to members of the VCU community, to include but not limited to Rape Aggression Defense (RAD).
Division of Administrative and Business Operations
These units are responsible for the administrative components of the department, including budget and financial operations; procurement and payment activities and functions; electronic systems and IT; human resource and performance management; internal policy and procedure development; accreditation and compliance activities; and grant programming.
Division of Emergency Communications
The Emergency Communications Center (ECC) is staffed 24/7 by trained and certified Communications Officers who answer and process all calls for service both emergent and non-emergent. They serve as a relay point between the needs of the community and VCU's Police Department. The ECC is also responsible for monitoring building access and alarms, providing general information, operating the VCU Siren System and responding to LiveSafe notifications. They coordinate with all local agencies, VCU's various security departments, VCU's escort services and the VCU Police Department to help make VCU and its surrounding community a safer place.