VCU news

By Corey Byers

Thirteen new Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department officers will hit the streets on each of the university’s campuses in the coming weeks. The 39th Basic Law Enforcement Academy Class graduated on June 27, and their start on the force brings the total number of VCUPD officers to 92.

The class was officially sworn in by a clerk from the Richmond City court shortly before graduation. VCUPD Chief John Venuti presented each new officer with his or her badge at the graduation ceremony.

In his remarks, Venuti said the challenge for every police chief is to mold recruits into officers who will serve the community well – a task that requires recruits to be completely immersed in community policing principles.

“This class breathes, walks and talks service and community policing. They are the real deal,” Venuti said. “They know that each day their actions move the VCU Police Department either forwards or backwards. Our philosophy is that simple.”

Venuti highlighted the class’ community projects, including raising more than $5,000 for the Massey Challenge, raising more than $800 for Special Olympics Virginia and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at a fraternity’s Dunk-a-Cop event, collaborating with the local nonprofit Childsavers and planning a July 12 fundraiser to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Throughout the course of the 19-week academy, the class completed numerous “chief’s challenges,” which required class members to complete vigorous physical fitness and team-building exercises. Venuti noted one challenge in particular in which the class picked up 250 pounds of trash along streets and alleys around VCU in 45 minutes.

“These challenges made this class communicate and work together,” Venuti said. “In policing, rarely is it just one person that accomplishes something great; policing is a team effort. That is a lesson that every police officer needs to learn very early on.”

Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder served as the graduation speaker. He told the class that laws are accepted and respected if they’re understood and called new officers to be “ambassadors of your profession.”

In addition to the presentation of badges, numerous awards were given for officers and a university administrator.

Individual honors The academic, physical and technical skills for each recruit were tracked during the duration of training. The following new officers from the 39th Basic Academy received awards for their achievements during training:

Officer Frederic Wiggins, highest average for written testing

Officer Benjamin Bone, best marksmanship and best overall physical fitness

Officer Michael Frye, best emergency vehicle operations driver

Officer Karl Arkwright and Officer Kelly Chamberlain, officers exhibiting the best attitude, determination and leadership

Class leaders included Officer Sean Longnecker, president; Officer Karl Arkwright, vice president; Officer Kelly Chamberlain, chaplain; and Officer Benjamin Bone, treasurer.

In addition to new officers being awarded for their training efforts, the department unveiled a new award for innovation and planning within the department.

Officer Stephen Adt received the first Chief’s Visionary Award for his work on the second annual Never Forget Memorial run. The Memorial Day event is a 1.4-mile silent run from the Siegel Center to the Virginia War Memorial in honor of fallen veterans.

“Many think of Memorial Day as a three-day weekend, a day of pools and barbecuing hot dogs and hamburgers,” Assistant Chief Chris Preuss said. “Adt wanted people to remember what it was, and is, really about.”

Charles Klink, Ph.D., VCU’s associate vice provost for student affairs, was given an award of appreciation for his support of, and collaboration with, the VCUPD.

“He has a student-centered approach to any situation and he consistently puts the interests of the students first when analyzing a situation and searching for a solution to the problem,” Preuss said. “His efforts are tireless and unselfish and fueled by a passion to make a difference in someone’s life.”

New captains Capt. David Aldridge, the newest addition to the VCUPD executive staff, was also sworn in during the ceremony. Aldridge has more than 30 years of professional law enforcement experience, most recently with the United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Aldridge will oversee criminal investigations, special operations and the VCUPD Police Academy.

Venuti also honored Ben Williams, 5, a member of the VCU Health System Daycare. Ben is well-known to staff and students for his efforts to help others follow rules and sometimes issues “tickets” to students who don’t follow rules.

Venuti gave Ben the honorary title of “Captain” assigned to the daycare. Ben received a policeman’s hat, captain’s bars and assisted Venuti with handing out badges to new officers during the graduation.

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