Howard “Mike” O’Berry has been named interim police chief at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Chief O’Berry, who has served with VCU Police since 1994, will talke over Aug. 1, from John Venuti, who was promoted last fall to associate vice president of public safety for VCU and VCU Health.

Chief O’Berry will be joined in manag- ing the daily operations of VCU Police by Lt. Nicole Dailey, who will become interim assistant chief.

VCU Police currently has 97 full-time sworn police officers, while R.M.C. Events provides 87 additional security personnel for VCU’s academic and residential buildings, said Corey Byers, public information officer for VCU Police. “VCU is fortunate to have the talent and experience internally to fill these critical roles on an interim basis as we evaluate our next steps to fill these positions permanently,” Meredith Weiss, VCU’s vice president for administration, said in a statement announcing Chief O’Berry’s new role.

“As long-time, dedicated leaders in the department, they understand the policing needs for an urban university and 21st century academic health system.”

A graduate of VCU’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute and the FBI National Academy, Chief O’Berry has managed a variety of departments with VCU Police during his 25-year career. He has been assistant chief since 2017. A Marine Corps veteran, he serves on the board of the Virginia Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.

In January, Richmond City Council nearly doubled the area of VCU Police’s jurisdiction in Downtown, from the university’s main campus to its medical campus a mile away.