RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – VCU Safety Ambassadors will now ride on GRTC Pulse and “5” buses in Richmond.
The ambassadors are unarmed and non-sworn civilians or students who assist the VCU Police.
Safety ambassadors have been around for several years, but their participation in city buses is new.
“There are no sworn, unarmed people on the bus, they are just there to make sure there is a presence,” said GRTC spokesman Henry Bendon. “Remind people of the rules of the ride and make sure everyone on board feels comfortable and safe.”
The GRTC Pulse runs daily from Rocketts Landing to Willow Lawn, while Route 5 buses run every 15 minutes across the entire VCU campus, as well as to Carytown and Whitcomb Court.
“These are people who are available to you and who you can turn to if you have any questions or concerns and who will make sure you feel comfortable on board the vehicle,” Bendon said.
The aim of the ambassadors is to calm any problems that arise to the point where the Richmond police do not have to intervene.
There was a recent shooting on a GRTC bus and 12 On Your Side asked Bendon if this initiative was a response.
“We just want more people, more resources. This is just one of the responses to having more people on board and we want to make sure they are taken care of,” he said.
Another aspect of taking ambassadors along is that they relieve the burden on bus drivers.
“You’re driving a bus and you’re responsible for maneuvering a 40-foot-long vehicle through traffic, so we want to make sure there are other people you can turn to,” Bendon said.
VCU police said online that each safety ambassador attends mental health training, including crisis intervention and mental health first aid courses.
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