WVU Public Safety Advisory Committee
The West Virginia University Police Department is committed to keeping each and every member of our campus community safe. And the WVU Public Safety Advisory Committee has been created to work alongside University Police to create a mutual understanding of police officers’ roles between University Police and our campus community.
Have a suggestion, commendation or complaint? Submit your response through our input form.
WVU PD Input FormThe Committee
The committee is designed to provide opportunities to enhance policing practices based on feedback gathered directly from community members. As part of these efforts, the committee will consistently review and update existing University Police policies in partnership with the University Police team to create a more inclusive and equitable place to learn, work and live.
The Committee’s Role
The West Virginia University Police Department is committed to keeping each and every member of our campus community safe. And the WVU Public Safety Advisory Committee has been created to work alongside University Police to create a mutual understanding of police officers’ roles between University Police and our campus community.
The committee will serve as a liaison between University Police and the broader community on public safety concerns. Members will discuss concerns from the community and review complaints to ensure proper representation and create change as needed.
In addition, the committee will:
- Review existing policies, procedures, trainings and material to work together on creating safe, diverse and inclusive strategies;
- analyze data and suggest changes to operations; and
- promote relationship building and public awareness between University Police and the campus community.
The Committee Members
The 2020-2021 WVU Public Safety Advisory Committee members include:
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Hannah Davis | Music Performance (Voice) student |
| Nakia Ridgeway | College of Law student |
| Camryn Pressley | International Studies student |
| Sohan Daniel | Sport and Exercise Psychology student |
| Rudi Safarudin | Health Services and Outcomes Research student |
| Ram Zaveri | Computer Science student |
| Zachariah Backus | Communication Sciences and Disorders student |
| Sudhanshu Mishra | Biology student |
| Ladimir Garcia | Journalism student |
| Romeo Mitchell | Biomedical Engineering student |
| James May | Sport and Exercise Psychology student |
| Joshua Chandler | Communication Studies student |
| Deana Morrow | Professor and Director of the School of Social Work |
| Stefanie Hines | Teaching Assistant Professor in the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design |
| Jim Nolan | Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology |
| Freddie Little | Director of Player Relations for WVU Football |
| Carrie Showalter | Executive Director of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities |
| Thea Browne | Administrative Assistant for WVU Libraries |
| Eric Murphy | Assistant Director of the Center for Service and Learning |
| Sarah Woodrum | Senior Associate Dean for Administration and Assistant Professor of the School of Public Health |
| Amber Brugnoli | Associate Vice President and Executive Director of the Office of Global Affairs |
| Lesley Cottrell | Director of the Center for Excellence in Disabilities and Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Public Health |
| Richard Burks | NAACP member |
| Diana Lewis | Action Facilities Management founder |
| Perri Jo DeChristopher | Monongalia County Prosecuting Attorney |
Members of the committee are appointed by — and report to — President Gee based on recommendations provided by various campus and community groups. Members have a passion for the safety of our community as well as an interest in the civil rights of all community groups.
Students will serve one-year terms. All other members will serve two-year terms. Individuals are eligible for appointment for up to three terms.
At all times, the committee will comprise:
- nine students
- three members of University Administration
- three staff members
- three faculty members
- three members of the community
- one lawyer from the Office of General Counsel, who will serve as an ex officio, non-voting member; and
- various University Police members, who also will serve as non-voting members.
Committee Meetings
The committee will meet a total of five times this year.
- In April, the committee will review the roles of the committee and become more familiar with University Police, its mission, its structure and current statistics.
- In May, the committee will take a look at various policies to begin a review process. They’ll also evaluate a report on University Police activity, like community outreach activities, new hires, complaints, use of force and critical incidents.
- In July, the committee will continue to review policies and receive input. In addition, they will begin the creation of a Student Advisory Committee and will discuss fall semester planning.
- In September, they will host a campus community forum to receive additional feedback from students and employees. The committee also will continue to review policies.
- In December, the committee will evaluate a report on activity and review policies.