VCU Police appoint new assistant chief

Mason Brown
Staff Writer

After a national search for the position, VCU Police has decided that Lt. Christopher Preuss is the best candidate for the department’s assistant chief.

Preuss’s promotion is in one of the largest university campus police departments in the country with 83 sworn officers, more than 250 security personnel and an accredited training academy. Preuss said the transition process is exciting, and he is looking forward to advancing the department in his new role.

“Right now I am just trying to get a feel for the new position, but I am already strategizing for the beginning of the upcoming academic year which starts for us on August 1,” he said.

Moving forward, Preuss said that safety for students is his primary directive.

“I want the students to know that all the personnel at the VCU Police Department will work tirelessly to make VCU the safest campus in the United States. Chief Venuti and myself will personally lead this charge, and it is our number one priority,” Preuss said.

The position of assistant chief is new to VCU Police and will deal with the day-to-day business of the department to work on new initiatives for the force.

Previously, Pruess had been serving since October 2011 as the interim assistant chief.

His knowledge as the interim assistant chief combined with his experience at the department made him a strong fit for the job. A VCU alumni from the class of 1991, Preuss has been around the proverbial VCU block several times.

With his bachelors degree in criminal justice, Preuss joined the department in 1994 as a patrol officer. In 1998, he was promoted to sergeant and commander of the special operations unit, where he oversaw a five-man crime investigation team.

Since joining VCU Police, Preuss has received a number of awards for service in the department, including four public service awards from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and a Henrico County Police Department Investigative Citation Award. Most recently, he graduated from the FBI National Academy last fall.

Pruess, who is not comfortable resting on his achievements, is ready to help advance the department to one of the best in the nation.

“What I am most looking forward to is working with the chief in moving the department towards being the most progressive, proactive, collaborative and responsive police department in Virginia, if not the United States,” Preuss said.

Chief of Police John Venuti said Preuss’s dedication and commitment is what landed him the job.

“Preuss was selected based on his 18 years of impeccable service to VCU as well as his knowledge of the needs of the VCU community regarding police and security,” Venuti said.

Preuss officially started on April 10, and his swearing in ceremony was April 13.