Beat Story #1- VCU vs. Richmond Police

If you think Virginia Commonwealth University police are just a bunch of rent-a-cops or security guards, then you're sorely mistaken.

The fact is that other than jurisdiction and certain titles concerning employment, VCU and Richmond City Police are mostly the same. The main difference is the size of the forces, with the VCU Police employing 70 sworn officers and the Richmond City Police having 650 sworn officers and 150 civilians in positions such as forensics specialists.

Cori Naser, a VCU junior, believes that the patrol schedule of the VCU Police and their constant close proximity equips them to better serve the VCU community, even though the Richmond Police boasts a higher number of sworn officers.

“They’re (VCU Police) more about serving and protecting (than Richmond Police),” Naser said.

Territory wise, VCU Police are responsible for both the Monroe Park Campus and the MCV campus, including parking structures and the streets adjacent to buildings and parking lots. Richmond City police have authority and patrol in the entire city. VCU Police also have expanded authority to include neighborhoods that are adjacent to the university, such as Carver.

Richmond Police Lt. Gary Ladin, 4th precinct, says that along with the Richmond Police, VCU Police is considered a reporting entity, which means that it reports crimes to the state of Virginia.

Ladin says that when Richmond Police are called to respond to a crime that occurs on VCU property, they often will call VCU Police for assistance in handling the situation. Any type of investigation that needs to be conducted afterwards would be the primary responsibility of VCU Police, with Richmond Police providing extra investigative measures such as forensic specialists if needed.

Because VCU Police are considered a valid police agency, they can receive help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation when needed. An example being the assistance that VCU received from the FBI in the fall of 2005 to help search for missing VCU student Taylor Behl. Behl was eventually found dead, the result of being murdered.

VCU junior Mark Hernandez sees the VCU Police as a protective shield from some of the neighborhoods that surround campus.

“I see them (VCU Police) as police who think that VCU kids need protection from the hood,” Hernandez said.

VCU Police are employed by the Commonwealth of Virginia while Richmond City Police are employed by the city of Richmond. Both organizations, however, receive the same training, which makes VCU Police unique when compared to other law enforcement forces at Virginia universities.

"VCU Police is the only university police department with a fully authorized police academy that is sanctioned by the State of Virginia," says police Capt. Carlton G. Edwards of the VCU Police.

With this training comes the ability for the VCU Police to handle the same variety of crimes that Richmond Police would be called on for such as vehicle accidents, crimes against persons, larcenies, and any other type of felony or misdemeanor. VCU Police has 18 to 20 officers patrolling both campuses per eight hour shift.

"VCU Police is equipped to handle all types of crime," said VCU patrol officer Carla Middleton.

On some occasions both Richmond Police and VCU Police are dispatched to the same call. When this happens both organizations will work together to solve the issue at hand.

"VCU Police and Richmond Police are like partners," said Middleton.

While the VCU Police jurisdiction falls on areas related to the Monroe Park and MCV campuses, students may contact VCU Police for any problems that occur either off campus and if need be, VCU Police will direct them to the proper authorities.