Creating a safe community at your college or university involves managing external relations and off-campus conduct. Off-campus community issues such as loud parties and noise complaints, alcohol and drug abuse, and disorderly or violent student conduct cannot be reduced or resolved with a reactive approach alone. It is vital for campus public safety, local law enforcement, administrators, and other campus safety stakeholders to identify issues and work synergistically on a problem-oriented and proactive approach.

Last week, staff members of the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department (VCUPD) presented at the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) Conference on this subject. According to VCUPD's Performance Management Coordinator, Shana Mell, VCUPD has worked strategically with campus partners such as neighboring community and student groups, property-owners, local police, and city stakeholders to address the following underlying issues: "an inconsistent approach to police calls for service; little to no record-keeping for analysis; lack of consistency with community groups and members; no internal coordination at VCU as an institution; no accountability for property owners; and not holding those that were creating issues accountable." In 2010, a multi-disciplinary VCU Neighborhood Team was formed with members from campus police, student affairs, residential life, and judicial affairs "as the first step to address problems in a non-traditional way." While the team hoped the existing issues would be resolved, Shana said that "it turned out to be only one of many prongs" in their problem-solving approach.

To help with their efforts, VCU Police created an External Relations Officer position. Shana advised the external relations officer is "a sworn officer dedicated to all off-campus conduct issues who is the face of VCUPD in the community attending all community meetings, communicating with landlords, following up on all related calls for service, and partnering with community officers at Richmond Police Department on all student-related issues." Letters to property owners (PDF) were also developed and used to urge more responsibility with tenants, as well as evict students who were problem tenants. The use of technology including the free LiveSafe safety mobile application, the prtysmrt party scheduling system, a highly visible VCUPD noise suppression vehicle (the vehicle's sound meters measure decibel levels), and a campus surveillance video system also helped VCUPD curtail off-campus issues. As a result of these community efforts: 

• Noise complaints were reduced; communication and response improved immensely
• Relationships between police and property owners improved
• Video cameras proved to be an effective crime deterrent and helped VCUPD track, locate, arrest and convict suspects
• Calls for service and police visibility increased

If you have questions or would like more information on VCUPD's external relations and off-campus conduct efforts, you may contact Shana Mell by phone, 804-828-5932 or email, or VCUPD's External Relations Officer Greg Felton by phone, 804-828-1209 or email.