West Virginia University Police Chief Bob Roberts has been recognized nationally for what his colleagues have known all along: being dependable, caring, professional and effective.

Campus Safety magazine named Roberts a finalist for the national Campus Safety Director of the Year awards, and he was the first runner-up for the education division.

He was honored at the Campus Safety Conference in Long Beach, Calif. on March 30. The program recognizes school, university and hospital security administrators who display extraordinary leadership and management of their departments. Roberts was among 10 campus security executives presented with an award.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work for a community that cares and is engaged,” said Roberts, who was nominated by his staff. “To me this recognition is more about the University Police Department’s officers and staff and all their hard work than it is about me. I was honored by my staff’s many kind words and their commitment to making West Virginia University safe.”

Candidates were judged based on several criteria, including outstanding leadership, ability to motivate employees, good community relations and excellence at handling budget issues.

In the past year, Roberts has established four programs on campus: Crime Awareness Week, Crime Victim Services, U-Watch Campus Community Committees and the Campus Emergency Response Team.

He has worked extensively with local agencies to share grant resources to provide overtime funding for additional officer coverage to fight underage drinking and drunken driving.

Roberts also obtained funding to expand the Student Cadet program, which brings students into the community to help combat binge/underage drinking and violence.

Roberts’ efforts have proved to be successful.

During the period January through September 2008 to the period January through September 2009, the number of violent crimes was reduced from 58 to 50; and the number of property crimes was reduced from 260 to 176.

Roberts has been director of University Police since 1989. He supervises a department of 62 employees, including 52 officers and two regional campus police units with 11 officers.

For more information on WVU’s Police Department, visit http://police.wvu.edu .

-WVU-

cd/05/03/10

CONTACT: University Police
304-293-COPS

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