VCU news

By Corey Byers

VCU Police Chief John Venuti announced today that a team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators will arrive on Aug. 26 to examine all aspects of the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.

“Verification by the team that VCU Police meets IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation — a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence,” Venuti said.

University members, agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments on Aug. 27. Comments must address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA’s standards. For additional information on IACLEA standards, please reference the IACLEA Accreditation Standards Manual available at www.iaclea.org.

In-person feedback is welcome between 10 and 11:30 a.m. at VCU Police headquarters, 224 E. Broad St. (Academy Room 2202ab). Call-in comments are welcome between 11:30 a.m. and noon; community members can call (804) 828-0439. The assessment team will take all comments.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the VCU Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to:

IACLEA Accreditation
1110 Bonifant St., Suite 220
Silver Spring, MD 20910

“The VCU Police Department has to comply with 215 standards in order to achieve accredited status,” Venuti said. “Accreditation lets the university community know that in addition to providing a high level of service, we are committed to maintaining the highest professional standards agency wide.”

The assessment team is composed of experienced campus law enforcement professionals from out of state. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and inspect facilities where they can witness compliance. The IACLEA assessors are:

• Margaret Gant, team leader
  Accreditation manager / Clery compliance coordinator
  University of North Texas Police Department
• Sgt. Kevin Roberto (retired)
  University of Connecticut Police Department

The accreditation manager for VCU Police is Rebecca Westfall, the department’s accreditation and compliance coordinator.

“Once the assessors complete their review of the department, they will report back to IACLEA, which will then decide whether the department is to be granted accredited status,” Westfall said.

Accreditation is for four years, during which the department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.