Clarence T. Hunter Jr., a former deputy chief of police at Virginia Union University, has been named chief of the Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department. 

Hunter, whose career began with the Richmond Police Department in 1990, has served in multiple law enforcement agencies across the region. He was deputy chief of police at Virginia Union from August 2022 to September 2023. His experience also includes leadership roles in the Henrico County Police Division, where he served as deputy chief and later assistant chief of police.

His appointment, effective Feb. 10, follows a national search. The final three candidates visited VCU in December, meeting with students, faculty and staff.

“VCU is fortunate to welcome Clarence Hunter as chief of police, an experienced law enforcement professional whose background with community policing aligns with VCU’s mission and values,” said Meredith Weiss, VCU’s senior vice president for finance and administration.

Hunter has been a Fair and Impartial Policing national master instructor for more than a decade, working to address bias in policing and providing anti-bias and diversity, equity and inclusion training to law enforcement agencies.

Before entering law enforcement, Hunter served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and the Virginia Army National Guard, retiring at the rank of master sergeant. He earned a bachelor’s in organizational leadership from Mountain State University and is a graduate of leadership programs at North Carolina State University, the University of Richmond and the Police Executive Research Forum.

A swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 10, at 3 p.m. in room 303 of the James Cabell Branch Library. Hunter succeeds John Venuti, who will become the associate vice president for public safety at VCU and VCU Health.