VCU news

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University Police Chief John A. Venuti has been named one of the top 13 national finalists for Campus Safety Director of the Year. The award was announced by Campus Safety Magazine on Jan. 30, and the finalists were selected from a nationwide pool of college and K-12 campus safety directors.

Venuti, who was nominated for the award by Assistant Chief Chris Preuss, was recognized for expanding community engagement and community policing efforts, embracing new technology, expanding the size and quality of the police force, strengthening relations with neighboring police agencies and attracting recognition to VCU policing from government agencies and community groups.

The magazine cited Venuti’s notable achievements, which include consistently high scores in a perception of safety survey issued to the campus community, technology upgrades such as the video surveillance system and the introduction of the LiveSafe app, which allows those who downloaded the app to contact police with questions, comments or tips.

Venuti became VCU’s chief of police in February 2010 following a national search and was promoted in November to assistant vice president for public safety. He oversees the VCU Police Department and VCU Emergency Preparednessoperations. Before his arrival at VCU, Venuti served in the Richmond Police Department for more than 25 years, rising to the rank of major and overseeing the department’s support services, including the major crimes, cold case, forensics and fugitive units and the force investigation and sexual assault teams.

Venuti received his bachelor’s degree in management and leadership from Bluefield College and has completed the FBI National Academy, among more than two dozen law enforcement and management training programs sponsored by federal and state agencies.

The VCU Police Department is Virginia’s largest campus law enforcement agency and employs 92 officers and 270 security personnel who serve on both of the university’s campuses.

The 2014 Campus Safety Director of the Year Award winner will be announced in the June/July issue of Campus Safety magazine. Each of the finalists will participate in a podcast, which will be available on the magazine’s website this spring.

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