VCU Police settle into new headquarters

The VCU Police Department moved into new headquarters which will better centralize the department between the Monroe Park and medical campuses.

VCU PD staff spent most of the business day on Wednesday, Oct. 12 making the move to the new location at 224 E. Broad St. and changes went into effect on Thursday, Oct. 13, according to VCU news. Last Wednesday marked the last day of public access to the former location at 938 W. Grace St.

“It’s important to point out that we’re now centrally located equally distanced from both campuses,” said VCU Police Chief John Venuti. “Where we do all of our admin work will change but that puts us in between both campuses.”

Despite the usual complications associated with the move, Venuti said he was confident the move would continue to progress smoothly.

“When you move a police department, it’s kind of a difficult and complicated situation,” Venuti said. “Mostly the logistics like any other situation when you move —picking up and putting down in a new location and getting settled in.”

Venuti insisted the move would not adversely affect officers’ patrols on either campus and said the VCU PD will continue to function normally throughout the move. There will be no interruptions to emergency responses, according to an email sent to VCU students.

Venuti likened the headquarters’ move to fixing a plane in mid-air; challenges must be handled while continuing to fly.

“You can’t just call a time-out and say you’re moving,” Venuti said. “You have to keep working. We’re just kind of rolling.”

Venuti said the move has been in the making for about three years and VCU has been cooperative and supportive throughout the entire process.

“We’ve worked with a bunch of contractors who have helped make this a reality,” Venuti said. “We’ve had a lot of assistance from VCU and this is something we couldn’t have done by ourselves.”

STAFF WRITER

Joe Johnson
johnsonj@commonwealthtimes.org