Personal Safety

We are responsible and committed to maintain an environment in which a student can excel in the classroom, on the athletic field, through civic engagement, and enjoy a vibrant social life. Achieving this requires partnerships with our faculty, staff, and most important, our students. We have created a comprehensive crime prevention program to educate the community members about threats to the safety of persons and property. This philosophy requires all of the officers in the department to be well-versed in many facets of crime prevention.

Our prevention program minimizes and eliminates criminal opportunities and provides timely information. The Police Department encourages the University community to be responsible for ensuring the safety of themselves, their property and others; to be vigilant and observe your surroundings; to never put yourself in danger; and to report suspicious activity.

To contact the Police Department regarding a crime prevention question, concern or suggestion to improve the safety of the campus community:

  • Call (804) 289-8715 and ask to speak with an officer
  • Email us at police@richmond.edu
  • Stop by the police department and ask to speak with an officer
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  • Personal Relationships
    • Spider Care Tips
    • If you are in a relationship and recognize signs such as controlling behavior, hostility, disrespect, intimidation, digital harassment, and/or physical violence you may want to seek assistance from PSMAs, an advocate, or other resources.
    • If you suspect that your friend is in an unhealthy or abusive relationship, it is important to take their lead and try to remain as supportive and nonjudgmental as possible. Encourage the use of the available resources. 
    • The first 72 hours after a break-up are the most dangerous for survivors who are escaping an abusive relationship. Creating and implementing a safety plan may be helpful. CARE Advocates, PSMA’s, and additional confidential resources below can assist with this process while remaining confidential.
    • Stalkers often utilize social media to track their victims, show up unannounced at locations that have been tagged in recent posts, and harass their victims with excessive messaging.
    • 3 out of 4 victims of stalking know their stalkers in some capacity. The most common relationship between the victim and perpetrator is a current or former romantic partner.
    • If you are a victim of stalking, it is helpful if you keep a record of each contact with the stalker. Please call 911 or URPD if you feel that you are in immediate danger. Contact a resource to assist with safety planning.
    • Any community member can become the target of dating violence or stalking regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
    • Engaging in any type of sexual activity without the voluntary, informed, ongoing, and active consent of your partner is sexual assault.
    • Always seek verbal, capacitated, clear consent. Consent to one sexual act does not imply consent to another, nor does having an intimate relationship with that person. The absence of a “no” does not mean “yes.”
    • When you see something that does not seem right, there are actions you can take to prevent the situation from escalating. Whether it is giving someone a safe ride home from a party, calling for help, or diverting a person who is engaging in uncomfortable or predatory behavior, bystanders can intervene to prevent sexual violence.
    • Perpetrators of sexual assault can exhibit warning behaviors such as intruding into someone’s personal space, isolating an individual, or encouraging consumption of alcohol and/or other drugs. 
    • Be active in supporting a safe and respectful community. If you see others engaging in disrespectful or inappropriate actions, speak up and get involved, or contact someone else to assist.

  • Protecting Property
    • URPD is available to meet with community members to provide crime prevention information, and mark or record serial numbers of valuable information
    • If you notice any suspicious person(s) or activity, please report it to the police.
    • URPD encourages community members to secure valuable belongings and office/room doors when not present.