Commendations |
Patrol Personnel
The Patrol Services section provides 24 hour patrol protection to the
campus, parking lots, residence halls and other properties owned or
controlled by the university or its foundation. RU Police Officers are
vested with full law enforcement powers and responsibilities, identical to
the local police or sheriff's department in your home community. The
officers are trained at the New River Criminal Justice Training Academy and
receive additional in-service and specialized training in first aid,
firearms, defensive tactics, legal updates, human relations, sensitivity
issues, and criminal investigations.
University Police share concurrent jurisdiction with the Radford City Police
Department for streets adjacent to the university property. University
Police offer assistance in all areas of the city when needed by the city
police. University police officers are responsible for a full range of
public safety services, including all crime reports, investigations, medical
emergencies, fire emergencies, traffic accidents, enforcement of laws
regulating underage drinking, the use of controlled substances, weapons and
all other incidents requiring police assistance.
As a courtesy and to promote cooperation in combating crime, University
Police share information on arrests and serious crimes with all surrounding
police departments including Radford City Police. The serial numbers of all
property stolen from campus are reported nationwide through the National
Crime Information Center (NCIC). Potential criminal actions and other
emergencies on campus can be reported directly to the University Police by
any student, faculty, staff member or visitor.
Bike Patrol

The Bike Patrol Unit was implemented to increase the visibility and
accessibility of officers in the campus community. Officers use mountain
bikes to patrol all areas of campus that cannot be accessed by car. Bicycles
increase the effectiveness of patrols and improve response times to requests
for assistance on campus. Bicycle patrol is effective on campus due to the
amount of vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Bicycle officers are able to move
quickly through central campus regardless of exterior traffic patterns.
There are also areas on campus where vehicle traffic is limited but can be
patrolled easily on bicycle. The Radford University Police Department boasts
one of the largest bike patrol units in Southwest Virginia. All bicycle
patrol officers at the Radford University Police Department are certified
through a 40 hour International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) approved course.
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

The Crisis Intervention Team is
comprised of highly skilled and highly trained police officers who function
as part of the regular police patrol, administrative and investigative divisions. These officers receive 40
hours of specialized training in psychiatric diagnosis, suicide
intervention, substance abuse issues, de-escalation techniques, the role of
the family in the care of a person with mental illness, legal training in
mental health and substance abuse issues, and local resources for those in a
mental health crisis. In addition to classroom instruction,
officers-in-training also participate in nine hours of role playing
exercises based on real-life scenarios and spend an entire day visiting
mental health and substance abuse inpatient and outpatient treatment
facilities where they have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one dialogue
with mental health consumers.
The training is designed to educate and prepare police officers who come
into contact with people with mental illnesses to recognize the signs and
symptoms of these illnesses and to respond effectively and appropriately to
individuals in crisis. Because police officers are often the first
responders in these incidents, it is essential that they know how mental
illnesses can alter people's behaviors and perceptions. The trained CIT
Officer is skilled at de-escalating crises involving people with mental
illness, while bringing an element of understanding and compassion to these
difficult situations.
CIT has shown to positively impact on officer perceptions, decrease the need
for higher levels of police interventions, decrease officer injuries, and
re-direct those in crisis from the criminal justice to the health care
system. The CIT Training is accredited by the Department of Criminal Justice
Services (DCJS).
For more information on CIT visit:
Mental Health Association of the New River Valley, Inc
RUPD Crisis Intervention Team Officers
Lieutenant Mike Baker
Lieutenant Bill Rutledge
Detective Phillips
Detective Shumate (CIT Faculty Instructor)
Officer Griffin (CIT Faculty Instructor)
Officer Johnson
Officer Parks
Officer Frye
Officer Bolen
Officer Shaffer