Nicole Dailey named assistant chief of VCU Police

Share this story

The Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department’s new assistant chief is no stranger to the university. Nicole Dailey, a 21-year veteran of the agency, was promoted to assistant chief in a ceremony yesterday at police headquarters.  

The Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department’s new assistant chief is no stranger to the university. Nicole Dailey, a 21-year veteran of the agency, was promoted to assistant chief in a ceremony yesterday at police headquarters.
The Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department’s new assistant chief is no stranger to the university. Nicole Dailey, a 21-year veteran of the agency, was promoted to assistant chief in a ceremony yesterday at police headquarters.

Dailey, formerly a lieutenant, has served as interim assistant chief since August. She is the first woman in the department’s 51-year history to reach the rank. She believes hard work, selflessness and innovation are key to making the VCU and VCU Health communities the safest in higher education. 

“I look forward to having a leading part in opening doors and forging new paths and trails for our team,” Dailey said. “As a leader, it is my duty to not only see the university’s vision for safety, but to help others realize their contributions in making that vision a reality.”

Dailey, a 1998 graduate of the VCU Police Academy, started as a patrol officer and has held management roles in patrol, support services, security services, crime prevention and special projects. She is a graduate of VCU’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute and a 2019 graduate of the FBI National Academy. 

The FBI academy is an elite course of study for law enforcement professionals worldwide. Following her completion of it, Dailey focused on VCU Police Department’s ongoing efforts to implement best practices in 21st-century policing and continued to network with police colleagues from across the globe. 

“In 21st-century policing, best practices and transformational leadership rule the day. Every agency, whether stateside or internationally, is experiencing the same concerns,” Dailey said. “These collaborations benefit VCU because they have added to the safety tools and resources we already have. Ultimately, we’re more knowledgeable and capable when it comes to mitigating and responding to safety concerns on both the academic and medical campuses.” 

Interim VCU Police Chief Mike O’Berry has worked alongside Dailey for more than two decades. 

“I’ve worked with Dailey for a long time and she has a strong background in community policing, which is right in line with policing today,” O’Berry said. “That strong background makes her an asset to VCU Police and the entire university community.”

VCU Police currently has 99 sworn officers and is one of the largest campus police departments in the U.S. With this promotion, Dailey will continue to oversee patrol operations, community policing and event management and will share emergency command duties with O’Berry.