Building safer cities together: How campus and city police forge strong partnerships in Atlanta and Richmond

Aligning missions to serve one community

In Atlanta and Richmond, campus and municipal police departments are working in close partnership to keep their shared communities safe. While their missions differ, departments like Georgia Tech and Atlanta, and VCU and Richmond are aligning through real-time technology, joint training, and daily coordination. From integrated camera systems to unified emergency response, this case study shows how trust and collaboration between campus and city agencies enhance safety for students, residents and the broader public.

In cities like Atlanta, Georgia, and Richmond, Virginia, the missions of campus and municipal law enforcement may differ—but the goal remains the same: keeping communities safe. Whether protecting students, faculty or city residents, public safety professionals are increasingly joining forces to share intelligence, coordinate responses and build trust.

We all work well together. Just like you said, you don’t want it to be the day that the bad thing happens, and all of a sudden you’re working with.

— Captain Richard McNevin, Georgia Tech Police Department

Real-time platforms like the Axon Fusus platform, paired with trust-based relationships, have transformed informal coordination into daily collaboration. Leaders across both cities agree: today’s safety requires more than tools. It requires unified effort.

The challenge: Different missions, one shared community

Richmond, VA | Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

Associate Vice President of Public Safety John Venuti leads VCU’s public safety efforts across a vast urban campus with more than 240 buildings and a hospital—all without a defined perimeter. His mission focuses on student wellness, academic continuity and campus safety.

I really attribute [our success] to three things: partnerships and collaborations, our use of technology, and creativity and innovation. This is how we’ve made VCU a safer place—and the city of Richmond safer too.

— John Venuti

Richmond Police Department (RPD)

Chief Rick Edwards oversees citywide public safety and works closely with VCU to meet the needs of an urban population and its embedded university.

Atlanta, GA | Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD)

Georgia Tech borders high-crime neighborhoods, demanding rapid communication and high situational awareness. GTPD takes a proactive role in identifying and responding to cross-boundary threats.

Whatever happens in and around us can—and sometimes does—filter onto campus.

— Richard McNevin

Atlanta Police Department (APD)

APD’s large jurisdiction depends on strong university partnerships— especially in fast-moving emergencies.

The solution: Shared technology and trust-driven leadership

Richmond

VCU and RPD have shared CAD (computer-aided dispatch), radio and records systems for over 15 years. During critical events, both departments are dispatched simultaneously.

We had a mass shooting during a city high school graduation hosted at VCU. The shooter ultimately surrendered to an unarmed VCU security member. That’s the kind of partnership we have.

— Rick Edwards

Atlanta

GTPD and APD connected 2,700 Georgia Tech camera feeds with APD’s 22,000 through Axon’s Fusus platform—seamlessly.

It happened just like that. No arguments, just mutual agreement between chiefs.

— Richard McNevin

The results: Safer communities through unified response

Coordinated emergency response

Integrated systems and trust-based protocols are paying off when it matters most. In both cities, campus and city agencies operate as one team, supporting each other to maximize coverage, respond faster and keep the public safe.

In Atlanta, when an active shooter opened fire in midtown, GTPD had immediate visibility into APD radio traffic and camera feeds. That coordination allowed GTPD officers to redirect resources and address secondary incidents. Their support helped APD concentrate fully on containing the primary threat.

We had officers respond to a nearby carjacking, likely related. Atlanta handled the shooter.

— Richard McNevin

In Richmond, when a major campus protest raised public safety concerns, VCU Police took the lead on visible response while RPD stood behind them, ready to reinforce if needed. The joint approach balanced safety with optics and public perception, helping maintain calm without escalating tensions.

We had 60 officers behind John’s 10. But the front line you saw in the media was VCU. Those optics mattered.

— Rick Edwards

These examples reflect a broader trend. Campus agencies are not just included in response plans; they are leading them, with municipal partners providing vital backup.

Training, drills and shared readiness

Preparation is foundational to public safety. In both cities, regular joint training ensures that when emergencies arise, teams operate with shared playbooks, muscle memory and mutual trust.

At VCU, police run full-scale drills and provide RPD access to their training facilities throughout the year. That investment builds operational consistency and strengthens coordination during real-world incidents.

We run large joint exercises and give RPD full access to our training sites.

— John Venuti

At Georgia Tech, GTPD’s training grounds serve as a regional resource. Agencies including APD SWAT and even Navy SEALs train there, reflecting the department’s openness and commitment to community-wide readiness.

We invite any agency nearby to join.

— Richard McNevin

A culture of respect, not ego

Technology alone doesn’t build collaboration. People do. In Richmond and Atlanta, mutual respect is the strongest asset. That respect is earned on the street through daily interactions and reinforced from the top down.

Patrol officers regularly respond together and back each other up. Dispatchers know both agencies are tuned in. Chiefs regularly connect and collaborate, helping build trust and alignment across agencies.

Respect comes from the street level. Our officers respond together, back each other up. That’s where the real work happens.

— Marshall Freeman, APD

Leadership models that behavior. Our chiefs eat dinner together. That sets the tone for the rest of us.

— Richard McNevin

This culture helps eliminate silos, reduce friction and create a unified public safety presence.

Community partnerships as a force multiplier

Both cities embrace a shared-responsibility model where public agencies, businesses and residents all contribute to safety.

In Atlanta, GTPD and APD have helped integrate thousands of privately owned cameras into the city’s Real-Time Crime Center. Community partners now feel a sense of shared ownership in the system.

If a light on a camera goes out, they call us saying, ‘my camera is broken.’ They don’t own it, but they feel like they do. That’s the power of inclusion.

— Marshall Freeman

Conclusion

Campus-led collaboration is essential to modern public safety

Campus and municipal agencies may have distinct mandates—but their success is intertwined. With shared tools, aligned leadership and side-by-side training, schools like VCU and Georgia Tech are setting a new standard for modern public safety.

Every day, I want to be Rick’s best partner. Because when we’re aligned, everyone in Richmond wins.

— John Venuti