John Venuti
WHY YOU KNOW HIM: The former Richmond police veteran became VCU's police chief in February.
WHAT'S NEW: Venuti has been emphasizing proactive policing and safety education for students.
In his first year as police chief at Virginia Commonwealth University, John Venuti has sought to make officers more visible, more proactive and more efficient.
Venuti became VCU's chief on Feb. 1 after earning a reputation as a highly visible investigator of violent crimes for the Richmond Police Department. He joined the Richmond police in 1984 and rose to the rank of major.
When Venuti became VCU's chief, he had overseen city homicide investigations for more than six years and had experience supervising high-profile investigations. He was tested a month into his new job when a VCU exchange student disappeared on March 2, prompting a massive search that grabbed headlines here and overseas. The student, Jonathan S. Dorey, still has not been found, although his parents have said they believe he perished in a state of despondency and that his body probably will never be recovered. The family lives in Guernsey, an island in the English Channel.
The combination of a pile of clothes, a half-empty bottle of liquor, and a sighting of a man matching his description swimming in the frigid James River led his family to conclude he died of a suicide or other reckless act as a result of a mental breakdown.
"That was the largest draw of manpower and resources since I've been here," said Venuti, referring to the search and investigation. "We've worked and continue to remain in contact with the family. I hope that someday they get some form of closure."
Since becoming chief, Venuti said he has made his officers more visible by putting them "in the right places at the right times."
He said he has focused the department on trying to address problems before they happen, partly by focusing resources on places where new students, often vulnerable because of their inexperience, are most likely to be targets of robbery or larceny.
Venuti said he also has emphasized the importance of cooperating with neighborhood groups near campus and working with the Richmond police.
He said 48 percent fewer VCU students have been robbed since the start of this school year than had been victims of robberies during a similar period last year.
Venuti, 49, supervises 82 sworn officers and about 300 security personnel.
Reed Williams
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