In a campus parking lot, members of the University of Richmond Police Department talk with drivers who are pulled over in their vehicles. But instead of issuing tickets, the officers walk around the vehicles checking tire pressure and fluids before people head out on the road. The vehicle safety day is held before students travel for Thanksgiving break and is one of many outreach services provided by the department.

“These events are key to building relationships across our community,” said Dave McCoy, chief of police and associate vice president of public safety. “We are always looking to partner in creative ways with our community.”

Throughout the year, URPD also holds “Coffee with a Cop,” where community members can stop by for a hot beverage, a donut, and a chat. The officers serve as liaisons, serving as a point of contact for residential advisors and attending some of the residence hall meetings and community building events. They provide active threat training to student groups and departments and also teach women’s self-defense training classes about four to five times per year.

These community-building efforts are in addition to their day-to-day work in securing campus safety.

The department’s efforts were recognized in 2022, receiving reaccreditation by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. URPD was the first, and currently longest-running, private institution to receive CALEA accreditation.  URPD also earned the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies reaccreditation for a 10th time in July 2022. These reaccreditations will last until 2026.

URPD is one of only a handful of private institutions in the country that has a full-service law enforcement agency accredited by these agencies. The rigorous process includes self-assessment, community input, and a review of policies, practices, and processes against international best practices.

“Maintaining compliance with these national and international standards ensures that URPD delivers the best possible service to the University community,” McCoy said.