Policing in a Democratic Society

In today’s ever changing landscape, the role of police in a democratic society continues to come into question. In 1829, Sir Robert Peel stated, “The police are the public and the public are the police”. His belief was simple: Policing agencies are not separate but part of our communities. In his opinion, this was paramount in establishing an ethical police force. It is not hard to see how complex the world has become since Peel introduced his principles of policing.

VCU and VCU Health highlight how diversity is an attribute conducive to human interaction and engagement. It is a badge of honor we display proudly. Those that traverse our campuses – the students, parents, faculty, staff, healers, patients and visitors – reflect all people.

As your chief of police, I will ensure defining our role as public safety professionals will constantly be at the forefront of our leadership team. It will not be enough to set metrics to track our progress. We must create an environment in which we continuously work to improve our public safety efforts. We will be led by transparency, accountability and compassion. The VCU community is connected to so many parts of Central Virginia and beyond; the decisions we make to try to provide a safe and secure environment impact all people. Our goal will always be to serve in a community that we are a part of, not separate from.

The VCU Police department will carry the principles that govern procedural justice. We will police with neutrality, give you a voice, be trustworthy and earn your respect. Each of our community members has value, and as such they will be treated. We will defend the constitutional rights of all people.

These goals cannot be accomplished without the support of the community. We ask that you work with us and provide open, honest feedback on how we can improve services to you. Our officers will engage with you, and we ask that you engage with us. The time for conversations is ever present; no formal setting is required; no voice should go unheard.

I look forward to working alongside you as we can continue to advance the effort by this police force to make VCU and Richmond a safe place to live, learn and work.

Please review the myriad of public safety resources available to the VCU community,
including this site, the VCU LiveSafe app and VCU Alert.

Sincerely,

Clarence T. Hunter Jr.
Chief of Police, Virginia Commonwealth University

Photo of Clarence T. Hunter Jr., Chief of Police