VMI Police

The VMI Police Department is staffed by 14 certified police officers and six security officers who provide safety and security 24-hours a day. 

VMI Police officers are responsible for crime prevention, traffic enforcement and the investigation and prosecution of all criminal offenses that occur on Post, at any of VMI’s outlying properties and on the streets and sidewalks adjoining Post.

About Us

All VMI Police officers are graduates of regional criminal justice training academies and are fully certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Most VMI officers have many years of experience working for municipal police or sheriff’s departments prior to being employed by VMI.

Each officer is required to complete 40 hours of in-service training biennially and to pass an annual firearms qualification. In addition, VMI officers have additional specialty training in bicycle patrol, tactical operations, crisis negotiations, crime prevention, dignitary protection, sexual assault and intimate partner violence investigation, and more.

Several officers are certified as criminal justice instructors and regularly teach at local criminal justice academies. Officers conduct training for cadets and employees on topics relating to crime prevention and personal safety, as well as conducting programs in the community and local elementary schools.

VMI Police Department has a full-time detective, responsible for investigating any serious offenses that occur on VMI Property, following up on initial reports taken by the patrol officers and processing crime scenes and evidence. The Department also has a fully trained Special Emergency Response Team, capable of responding to significant threats to the safety of the VMI community and certified Crisis Negotiators.

VMI Police Department works closely with the Commandant’s staff and student governing bodies to enforce VMI rules and regulations. VMI Police also work closely with Lexington Police Department, Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Department and Virginia State Police on incidents occurring off-Post that involve cadets

Safety Tips

• Don’t walk alone if possible, especially at night.
• Report suspicious activity to the VMI Police or Lexington Police.
• Stay in well-lit areas at night, especially when entering and exiting buildings.
• If an area feels unsafe, inform the police to help them to improve the area’s sense of safety.
• Be alert. Read email notifications of any criminal activity on Post.
• Avoid excessive drinking as it will lower your inhibitions and affect your judgment, increasing the risk of injury or victimization.

Law Enforcement Links