VCU news

By Corey Byers

Virginia Commonwealth University's Police Department reported a significant reduction in robberies and aggravated assaults on campus over the past year – though Chief John Venuti said that drop in crime is only part of the picture of safety at VCU, and that everyone can play a role in ensuring their personal safety and the safety of others.

On-campus robberies decreased by 44 percent from the 2012-2013 academic year to 2013-2014, and aggravated assaults decreased by 30 percent in the same timeframe.

In the latest perception of safety survey, 95.5 percent of VCU students, faculty and staff said they felt safe on the university’s campuses. Venuti is determined to keep the community feeling safe – he wants students, faculty and staff to know that they have access to tools to take control of their personal safety.

With classes starting on Thursday, and the university’s Welcome Week underway, VCUPD is hosting multiple bike and computer registrations throughout the week. Registrations give students and staff the chance to have valuables on record with the department – and the chance to exchange old bike locks for more reliable U-locks.

Also, for the second year in a row, the department is offering the LiveSafe app for Apple and Android phones. Users can use the free application to talk or text directly with VCU Police dispatchers. They can send photos and videos to the department, and use a SafeWalk feature to share their location with friends and family and report safety concerns. (For those without access to a cell phone, there are still hundreds of Emergency Response Telephones stationed throughout both campuses that will connect callers with VCU Police dispatchers.)

As always, the department encourages students to travel with others in well-lit areas, to be aware of their surroundings and to store valuables in bags instead of openly displaying them. More safety tips are available online. RamSafe buses continue to be available for students, faculty and staff from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Venuti is also continuing the practice of high-visibility deployment of officers on both campuses. In past safety surveys, students have indicated that they want officers, or security personnel, visible on campus. Thirteen new officers are currently in field training and will start patrols in the weeks ahead.

In addition to the routine patrols handled by VCU Police officers, the company G4S Secure Solutions will again be boosting visibility on campus with both bike and vehicular patrols. The company is also handling security in academic buildings.

Students in VCU’s residence halls will also see a new face this year – VCU Police Officer Stephen Adt. Adt was recently assigned to residence halls to address any safety concerns that residential students may have. He will also serve as the point of contact between residence life staff and the police department.

As officers and security personnel patrol campuses, a robust surveillance camera system continues to serve as a valuable safety tool. Since VCU Police upgraded a surveillance camera system last year, the department has been able to make arrests, or gather valuable evidence in more than 200 cases.

“We are committed to keeping our community safe, communicating with those we serve and making sure our services meet the needs of the university,” Venuti said. “We want everyone to have a safe and productive new year.”