VCU names new police chief

Former officer returns to VCU

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RICHMOND, Va. – A former Virginia Commonwealth University police lieutenant is returning to VCU, this time as the university’s new chief of police. William (Willie) B. Fuller, currently the police chief at Virginia State University in Petersburg, will begin work at VCU next month.

Fuller will replace Dan M. Dean Jr., VCU’s police chief of 33 years, who will retire in January.

"Willie will be a wonderful addition to VCU’s police force," said Dean. "I have worked with him for 16 years, and have known him on a professional as well as personal level. I have total confidence that he will do an excellent job here in the VCU community."

As chief, Fuller will direct and manage VCU’s police force of 71 sworn officers and 70 non-sworn security personnel. VCU police officers complete a 14-week basic training academy and a 13-week field-training program to earn certification and are empowered by the Code of Virginia.

"We conducted a national search to find the right person for this position," said Paul Timmreck, VCU senior vice president for finance and administration. "We are very fortunate to have found an extremely qualified person who knows VCU, its campuses and its community."

"I began my academic and police careers at VCU and feel blessed by the opportunity to return and serve the VCU community as police chief," said Fuller. "Dan Dean has been both father figure and mentor to me for more than 20 years. Following in his footsteps will be an honor. I also want to thank VSU for its support and role in my development over the past four years."

Fuller has been chief of police at VSU since 1996. Prior to his time at VSU, he served in a variety of positions with the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in Richmond, including deputy director of the Bureau of Law Enforcement Operations. Fuller was a police officer at VCU from 1979 – 1981.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in police science from St. John’s University in Springfield, La. Fuller also attended Police Supervisory School at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy in Quantico.

He currently is a member of the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, and serves as editor for the Virginia Criminal Law Handbook for Police Officers.