VCU news

By Corey Byers

VCU Chief of Police John Venuti has appointed Capt. Ervin “EJ” Taylor as an interim assistant chief. Taylor joins Assistant Chief Nicole Dailey in managing the department’s day-to-day operations and 24/7 patrol operations for both campuses. 

After serving four years in the U.S. Marines Corps, Taylor started at Virginia Commonwealth University as a security guard on the MCV Campus. He then joined the VCU Police Academy in 1998 and has been with the department for 23 years.

“Taylor has been an integral part of the command structure for years and has contributed to changing the paradigm of policing at VCU,” said Venuti, associate vice president of public safety. “He supports policing with a purpose, embraces fair and impartial policing and focuses on the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Taylor started as a bike officer and worked his way up the ranks in various assignments. As a community policing officer, he worked in the Carver neighborhood, took part in campus events, outreach, student move-ins, student orientations and safety fairs. 

He is certified in crime prevention and has experience in investigations, the police academy and patrol. He has served as a sergeant, lieutenant and captain. 

“Having promoted Taylor to lieutenant, captain, and now appointing him as an interim assistant chief, there is no greater satisfaction than watching employees grow and develop and assume leadership roles,” Venuti said. “The future of policing at VCU will be guided by dedicated and committed leaders like Taylor.”

Taylor said he looks forward to the opportunities for change in law enforcement and building a new public safety model at the university. He enjoys working side by side with the officers, getting out into the community and engaging people.

“As a leader, my motto is that to get respect you must give respect. Treat people like family and with the utmost customer service; you leave every encounter better than it was when you arrived,” Taylor said. “Don’t let others define you, you define yourself through your actions and your character.” 

Taylor has completed FBI leadership training and is a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond. He serves as a general instructor and defensive tactics instructor for officers and as a Rape Aggression Defense  instructor for self-defense classes.