Student committee to give VCU Police feedback

Cyrus Nuval
Staff Writer

A new committee will work to better connect VCU students with campus police.

The VCU Police Department, in cooperation with the Monroe Park Student Government Association and the Office of Student Affairs, is currently assembling the new committee.

Dean of Student Affairs Reuban Rodriguez, adviser to the SGA, said the new committee will serve as an advisory committee to the VCU Police Department and Police Chief John Venuti and as a direct liaison between the students and VCUPD.

“This is especially needed now, with the number of crimes that have happened (on) VCU property to VCU students,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said that such a committee, created with the help of Venuti and SGA President Jae Lee, was important so the police can have a dedicated group of students to give the department direct feedback from the student body. Venuti agreed.

“My perspective can often be different from the perspective of the students,” Venuti said. “I believe that this committee can be very important in receiving useful and helpful feedback from the individuals that are learning, working and walking in this committee … the VCU PD and I have always been doing our best to communicate with the student of VCU (and) this committee will help formalize and improve the communication.”

Rodriguez and Venuti hope that the committee’s roster will be quickly established with a leadership group that can help report their ideas and feedback from the student body.

“The new committee will be technically under or a part of the VCU Police Department, however, the memberships are open to all students, faculty and staff members of VCU,” Venuti said. “Currently I have list of people who are interested in joining the committee from the last town hall meeting.”

However, Rodriguez expects the initial roster to be fluid as this is the first set of meetings they will have.

Students who are interested in becoming members are encouraged to speak with Lee and other members of the executive branch of the SGA.

Venuti said the first meeting of the new advisory committee will be held on Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. at the VCU Police Department headquarters at 938 W. Grace St.