VCU Police take a bite out of crime
After the high-profile shootings of two students this year, some campus community members are concerned about growing crime rates at VCU. The heightened fear is not matched by what the latest annual campus security report suggests.
When compared to 2006, arrests in 2007 by the VCU Police Department were up by 23 percent, but overall crime for VCU is down by about 20 percent.
After the high-profile shootings of two students this year, some campus community members are concerned about growing crime rates at VCU. The heightened fear is not matched by what the latest annual campus security report suggests.
When compared to 2006, arrests in 2007 by the VCU Police Department were up by 23 percent, but overall crime for VCU is down by about 20 percent.
VCU Police Chief Willie B. Fuller said the university is taking steps to make sure the lower crime percentage stays that way.
“The university has made a commitment not to reduce the financial resources that it affords the police department, despite extremely difficult and challenging economic conditions,” Fuller said. “That, in itself, is a great boon to our ongoing efforts to combat crime.”
After an apparent boom in violent crime, some skeptics, such as shooting victim Robbie Berriz and his mother Raisa (see left), are concerned about the validity of the statistics, and if the numbers accurately reflect actual university crime.
Fuller says it is important to remember that all police statistics are based upon a department’s reported crime.
“The report is generated in-house by the VCUPD Division of Administrative and Business Services,” Fuller said. “The reports are compiled from all criminal incidents that are reported to the VCU Police Department.”
Fuller also addressed confusion about the number of arrests versus the number of crimes.
“There is no direct link between the amount of arrests and the decrease in reported crimes, as that may fluctuate from time to time without regard for the actions of the police,” Fuller said.
Even though the atmosphere on campus seems to be on high alert, some students seem confident.
“There have been a few incidents of people getting hurt, but for the most part I feel pretty safe,” said Anisha Singh, a mass communications major. “It seems like law enforcement is doing their job.”
Fuller said support from the community is pertinent to VCUPD’s ability to do its job.
“As long as we continue to receive a positive level of support and cooperation,” Fuller said, “the VCUPD is well-suited to continue combating crime on and around our campuses.”
