The Virginia Criminal Justice Services Board has designated Virginia Tech as a "Crime Prevention Campus." Virginia Tech Police Chief Kevin Foust accepted the designation on May 24, from Rick Arrington, crime prevention programs manager with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.

Virginia Tech is the fourth university in the commonwealth to receive the distinction in recognition of exemplary crime prevention services and initiatives. The Certified Crime Prevention Campus Program is open to all public and private accredited colleges or universities in Virginia.

To be certified, a college or university must detail crime prevention goals, programs and accomplishments. A certified crime prevention campus must have 11 core safety elements and four electives; these include having a certified crime prevention specialist on staff, maintaining mutual aid agreements with other agencies, continuing compliance with the federal Jeanne Clery Act, having a crisis management plan in place and distributing campus safety information.

Virginia Tech will retain the crime prevention campus certification for three years before the police department must complete a reassessment process to maintain certification.

The Virginia Tech Police Department is a full-service, nationally accredited police agency that provides the same level of service offered by municipal police departments, as well as other services unique to an academic institution. 

The department is responsible for the well being of more than 50,000 students, employees, and visitors at Virginia Tech, 24 hours a day. The department works closely with administrators, students, and employees to create and maintain a secure atmosphere and oversees the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad.

Share this story