VCU Police creates student advisory committee to help reimagine policing

By Jake Burns
VCU Police

Big ideas often begin with small talk. The formation of a new student-led advisory committee aimed at reimaging policing at Virginia Commonwealth University began with an off-the-cuff chat several years ago.

Brad Lehmann, Ph.D., assistant professor in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, and Clarence T. Hunter Jr., a local law enforcement veteran at the time, have served as co-instructors of a course called "Bridging Perspectives: Critical Conversations for Students and Police" for several years. The class brings together students and local law enforcement officers to foster mutual understanding.

A few years ago, a post-class conversation sparked an idea, which stuck with both Lehmann and Hunter - who was appointed chief of police at VCU in February this year. That idea is now the Student Voice Committee to the Office of the Chief of Police, which launched this fall. The committee of 10 VCU student volunteers will help shape the public safety environment at VCU by providing a direct channel of communication to police leadership.

"I welcome the hard conversations that we must have to reinvent policing at VCU," Hunter said. "Our department is built on four pillars: trustworthiness, respect, neutrality and voice. Our goal is to ensure we consistently provide these to our VCU community. I am looking forward to hearing our students' concerns and working to bridge perspectives."

Lehmann said VCU is at the forefront of rethinking its campus safety environment by making students key collaborators in that process.

"By involving students directly, we are embracing a model known as 'procedural justice.' When students have an authentic say in how campus policing operates, trust grows, and safety becomes a shared responsibility," Lehmann said. "This shift represents a purposeful effort, representative of the Bridging Perspectives course, toward a culture of care where listening, collaboration and community values guide everyday decisions. It's not just about keeping campuses secure; it's about making sure everyone feels heard, respected and protected."

The newly formed Student Voice Committee, which is VCU's version of a Student Community Review Board, is tasked with "promoting transparency, advancing equity and cultivating a shared vision for safety and justice," according to its mission statement.

"Through the inclusion of diverse perspectives and lived experiences, the committee aims to bridge gaps in understanding, address student concerns and co-develop community-centered strategies," the statement says. "These efforts are intended to reflect the collective values and aspirations of both students and the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department."

The originating committee consists of 10 students from across the university. Their reasons for joining vary and include:

• Amplifying student voices to build up community policing.
• Strengthening the connection between students and law enforcement.
• Expressing direct, personal concerns about police response to public assemblies or protest activity on campus.
• Rebuilding bridges between the student body and VCU Police.
• Deepening understanding of law enforcement processes and response.

Johanna "Jo" Adams, who serves as president of VCU's Student Government Association, hopes the Student Voice Committee's work will lead to tangible impacts on public safety by bringing nonpolice voices into the conversation in a new way.

"Some changes that I am hoping to see through the work done are more conversations between both parties to create a peaceful and cohesive Richmond," Adams said. "By being a member, I would like to be a part of these conversations and decisions to open the door for everyone and make everyone in Richmond feel comfortable."

Widad Khan, a student and lifelong Richmond resident, said high-profile events have strained the relationship between some members of the student body and VCU Police. Her service on the committee is an opportunity to address that.

"I hope to help create an environment where students not only feel safe but also know their voices are valued and protected. I want to be part of shaping meaningful policies that reflect transparency, shared trust and a genuine commitment to student well-being," Khan said. "Most importantly, I want to help foster a culture where students and the community alike can see VCU as a partner in building a safer, stronger and more inclusive Richmond."

Student Voice Committee members help set the agenda, share concerns they have experienced or heard from their peers, and propose policy/response changes for consideration.

Sgt. Jasmine Merricks and Sgt. Shola Kayode of VCU Police were asked by Hunter to lead the formation of the committee. Working alongside Lehmann and Chernoh Wurie, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Wilder School, the team invested hours of research and time into the project, which is already reaping professional and personal returns, the officers say.

According to Lehmann, "the research we conducted reveals that many universities have little to no student representation on campus police advisory committees. In cases where students are included, their voices are often limited to a single seat among staff, faculty and other stakeholders.

"This narrow inclusion fails to reflect the diversity and lived experiences of the broader student body," he said. "By expanding student participation and uplifting more representative voices, universities can take an uncommon step toward reimagining campus safety like what we are trying to do at VCU."

Merricks cited the initiative's impact at both the professional level as a police officer - and in personal terms.

"Already, I am seeing the benefits of this work. By engaging directly with committee members, I've been able to integrate their ideas into upcoming patrol initiatives, helping us shape operations to reflect student perspectives," Merricks said.

"On a personal level," she added, "this program carries special meaning for me. As a mother of a high school senior preparing for college, I want him to experience the kind of supportive, empowering environment we're creating through the [the committee]. I know firsthand how valuable it is for students to feel seen, heard and involved in decisions that impact their safety and daily lives."

For Kayode, who led recruitment efforts, the Student Voice Committee is reminiscent of one he participated in as an undergraduate student in Chicago.

"Now, as a two-time alumnus of the VCU Wilder School and a patrol supervisor with VCU Police, I have continually sought ways to establish similar opportunities for VCU students to have a voice within our department," he said. "This committee is deeply personal to me, as it represents something unprecedented at VCU. I believe it will be a game-changer - a powerful step forward in building trust, fostering collaboration and ultimately making our community safer."

The Student Voice Committee is still accepting applications for current students - undergraduate and graduate - who would like to make their voices part of this dialogue. Interested students can visit this page for more information on qualifications and the application process.

Full committee meetings begin later this month.