VCU news

By Brian McNeill

In October 2023, a string of thefts struck multiple locations on Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park Campus. Detectives with the VCU Police Department watched hours of security camera footage and quickly identified the suspect and connected them to numerous thefts.

“The offender was successfully identified, multiple warrants were obtained and the offender was convicted on all charges related to the offenses,” said VCU Police Detective Frederic Wiggins, who added that VCU Police encourages the community to secure all property at all times – and that includes securing all bikes with U-locks to make them more difficult to steal.

The theft case was just one of 541 times during the 2023-24 academic year that VCU’s system of more than 1,800 cameras across both campuses and satellite locations assisted in police investigations, allowing officers to pull usable photographic or video evidence in cases such as crimes against people, crimes against property, motor vehicle crashes, missing persons and more.

“Cameras provide a bird’s-eye view to what is reality around campus,” said Lee Olds, interim deputy chief of VCU Police. “They allow police to investigate crime at a faster pace and with more success than if the cameras weren't available.”

In a spring 2024 survey of VCU students, faculty and staff, 92% of respondents reported feeling “safe” or “very safe” on VCU’s campuses. The camera system, Olds said, is an important component behind that perception of safety.

“The purpose of the system is to ensure everyone in our community can be as safe as possible,” he said. “Without a robust camera system, we would not have nearly the amount of success investigating crime and keeping people safe.”

The cameras also allow police to address other concerns and monitor events in a broader perspective than if it were just officers relaying information, he added. And the cameras provide other entities at VCU, such as Residential Life & Housing and VCU Athletics, with the ability to observe in real time what is happening at their facilities.

The cameras are strategically placed to cover the most traversed areas of VCU’s campuses, Olds said.

“Ultimately, there are not many places on the MP or MCV campus that a person could go and not be caught on camera,” he said. “The goal [for the camera system] is to catch the person committing the crime, coming or going from the scene, or all of the above.”

Privacy and confidentiality

The camera system is passive, meaning that video feeds are not actively monitored 24/7. While cameras can be used for live monitoring, officers primarily pull footage from a specific location once a crime or accident is reported.

The system is authorized by VCU’s Campus Security Camera System policy that was first adopted in 2015 and that states:

“VCU is committed to enhancing the quality of life of the campus community by integrating the best practices of safety and security with technology. A critical component of a comprehensive security plan is the utilization of a campus security camera system. The surveillance of public areas is intended to deter crime and assist in protecting the safety and property of the VCU community. This policy addresses the university’s safety and security needs while respecting and preserving individual privacy.”

The policy outlines VCU Police’s procedures to ensure privacy and confidentiality. Video is retained only for approximately seven days, and the footage is only saved or archived when it’s related to a criminal investigation or court proceeding.

RAMSWay

Certain pathways around VCU’s campuses that connect academic buildings, gyms, libraries, medical buildings, residence halls and bus stops have been designated RAMSWay routes.

Marked by signage along the routes that say: “This path is patrolled by VCU Police. 828-1234. SMILE! YOU MAY BE ON CAMERA!”, the paths are meant to supplement existing personal safety habits and VCU safety efforts by bringing community members together onto a common route to assist in maintaining a safe environment.

The routes have an increased presence by VCU Police, adequate lighting, emergency reporting telephones and significant coverage by security cameras.

Parking deck security

In recent years, VCU has significantly upgraded security in VCU and VCU Health parking facilities, notably including security cameras and LED lighting.

From 2020 to 2023, the number of cameras in VCU Parking facilities grew from just over 100 to 651, said Josh Stone, executive director of VCU Parking and Transportation. In addition, all lighting in the decks is being upgraded to LED lighting.

“Safety within VCU’s parking facilities is a top priority,” Stone said. “We must ensure that faculty, staff, students and visitors have a safe place to park so that they can carry out their activities at VCU without concern.”

“Upgrading our camera and lighting systems made sense not only from a safety perspective but also from an operational standpoint, increasing both pedestrian and vehicle safety by significantly improving visibility,” he added. “All of these enhancements align with the university’s mission to create a safe and conducive campus environment for learning.”