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Crime Prevention
It is the goal of VMI Police Department to promote safety and security for all members of the VMI community through a comprehensive plan of Crime Prevention. We encourage all cadets, employees and visitors to be aware of their responsibility for their own security and the security of others.
A successful Community Policing program forms partnerships between law enforcement and the individuals they serve in order to develop solutions to problems and increase trust in police. These programs can help a police department assess risk and anticipate crime, as well as guiding strategies to mitigate these. Basic Crime Prevention efforts can reduce the opportunity for or lessen the impact of crime.
A key tenet of crime prevention is the involvement of community stakeholders in efforts to increase awareness and promote a sense of shared responsibility for issues that arise. It is the goal of VMI police officers to establish working relationships with members of the VMI community in order to achieve the following goals:
- VMI Police will present a proactive presence in all buildings and facilities to deter crime, encourage reciprocal communication, and foster a sense of security for all community members.
- VMI Police will encourage community members to share all concerns, without concern that they may be viewed as trivial or an inconvenience. Officers will respond appropriately and efficiently to address concerns or make appropriate referrals to reporting parties.
- VMI Police will seek to establish relationships that facilitate the free sharing of information, and which encourage cadets, faculty, staff, and visitors to feel that their role in the safety and security of the VMI Post is valued and appreciated.
- VMI Police will stay well informed of new and/or innovative community policing programs which address old crime problems in a new way, or which address a completely new form of crime. Programs may be created or modified as needed to accommodate changing concerns or crime trends on Post.
If you have questions or would like training for your department, contact us at 540-464-7017.
Security Surveys
Often crime and safety risks are directly linked to the environment. Physical structures can generate or eliminate crime. When properly addressed through the premise of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and Target Hardening, a process of increasing the difficulty of success for the criminal through the use of security devices, opportunities for crime can be greatly reduced. VMI Police Department has trained staff able to conduct on-site security surveys of VMI facilities and residences to identify areas of weakness and suggest corrective measures.
Student Escort Services
Several VMI cadet parking lots are located some distance from the Barracks and Main Post. Cadets who have concerns about walking to or from these parking lots after dark can call VMI Police Department to request a ride.
Operation Identification
Operation Identification is a program that helps to deter theft and to facilitate the safe return of stolen property. VMI Police Department has an engraving tool that is available to cadets and staff to engrave identifying marks or numbers into personal property. VMI Police Department also has a property ID database where serial numbers and other descriptors can be entered to aid us in recovering items that may be lost or stolen.
Crisis Intervention Team
As with members of any community, VMI is sometimes faced with disruptions from troubled cadets or visitors. All VMI Police officers are certified members of the local Crisis Intervention Team. They have received specialized training in how to appropriately address and intervene with individuals in crisis. Timely and appropriate intervention can often prevent an incident with emotional or psychological roots from developing into a criminal or disciplinary situation.
Relationship Violence/Stalking
Relationship violence and stalking are problems on every college campus, and VMI is not immune from this issue. Awareness and intervention programs are the most effective way to prevent unhealthy relationships from developing and to empower victims to seek assistance. VMI Police Department is an active participant in education programs for cadets. Printed materials are available at VMI Police Department and from VMI Police officers. Detective Hunt is specially trained in the investigation of intimate partner violence and stalking and is available any time to answer questions from cadets or staff and to assist those who find themselves in need. VMI Police Department works to empower victims by providing information and access to support services, by conducting thorough investigations and criminally charging perpetrators of these offenses and by encouraging victims to take an active role in the development of strategies to ensure a positive outcome for their unique situation.
Adopt-a-Building Program
Through this initiative, individual officers are assigned to function as a liaison between the Police Department and building coordinators for each building. There are many benefits that may be generated by this outreach, but the primary goals are to provide crime prevention tips, share the resources and services of the department, increase communication between the police and community, and create a healthy security culture.