VCU news

By Tom Gresham

Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe congratulated 14 new graduates of the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Academy for choosing “a noble profession” during commencement exercises on Oct. 14 at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.

Monroe addressed the new officers directly during his speech before a large crowd of veteran officers, VCU officials, friends and family who had gathered to salute the graduates. Monroe told the officers that graduation day “should be the first of many milestones in this profession for each of you.”

VCU Police Capt. Grant Warren, director of the VCU Police Academy, thanked the new officers for choosing to become police officers — with all the accompanying risks —“at a time when that kind of commitment is exceedingly rare.”

The graduating officers were new recruits for the VCU, Virginia Union University, State Capitol and Richmond International Airport police forces. Monroe noted that his department’s working relationships with other Richmond-based police departments was critical to the work it does.

“We value the partnerships we have with the other precincts within the local area,” Monroe said.

Graduates received diplomas, and awards were distributed for scholastic achievement, marksmanship, physical fitness and overall achievement. Warren announced that each of the graduates had passed the law enforcement certification exams required to start service.

Ellsworth Pryor, president of the graduating class and a new VCU police officer, spoke for the graduates and said that “not only are we graduating today, but our families are graduating today.”

In that spirit, each officer had selected a loved one — a parent, spouse, child, sibling or mentor — to place a pin on their uniform. The loved ones approached the front of the auditorium and fastened the pins as cameras flashed and tears appeared.

VCU Police Chief Willie Fuller also used the occasion of the graduation ceremonies to honor three current law enforcement officials. Eugene Harris, an emergency communications officer at VCU, received a Service Commendation award for his work upgrading the technological capacity of the department. VCU Police Sgt. Gary Natoli and Richmond Police Detective Clifton Jackson were recognized with Meritorious Service awards for their investigation of a murder that was successfully prosecuted.

Malorie Janis, a VCU graduate and a public relations specialist in VCU News Services, opened the graduation ceremonies with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem.