On his first day as the new chief of the GW Police Department, an important item on Victor V. Brito’s calendar was his swearing-in ceremony at the University Student Center Amphitheater, with a reception following. Many of Brito’s former colleagues were on hand to wish him well. Their presence highlighted the communal nature of policing emphasized in remarks at the ceremony.
Brito previously served as the chief of police in Hagerstown and Rockville, in Maryland. The former mayor of Hagerstown as well as community activists from both cities attended the short ceremony, along with officials from various police departments in the region. Brito spent more than 20 years in leadership roles with the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department and has taught at American University.
The ceremony was hosted by Kathleen McDonald, associate vice president for campus safety, to whom Brito will report. McDonald welcomed guests and introduced speakers, beginning with President Ellen M. Granberg, who said, “The swearing in of a police chief is more than just a ceremonial milestone. It’s a recommitment to values we hold as a university—particularly integrity, service and care for every member of the community.”
Campus safety, she added, is about more than emergency response and crime prevention. It’s also about fostering a community where people feel safe, supported, respected and free to thrive. Granberg expressed confidence in Chief Brito’s ability to excel in his position and thanked his wife, Corina, and family for their support.
After recognizing Ian Greenlee for his service as interim police chief, Baxter Goodly, vice president of Safety and Operations, administered the oath of office and presented Brito with his badge.
“Throughout his career,” Goodly said, “Chief Brito exemplified the values we all aspire to: integrity, service, accountability and inclusive engagement.”
In his remarks, Brito likened police work to a team sport, saying he felt a strong sense of community and collaboration on the GW campus, and pledged to work supportively with members of the GW Police Department, addressing them directly.
“I'll work with you and besides you, not in front of you,” he said. “Our number one goal is that people need to be safe on campus. They need to feel heard. And we need to work with everyone to make that happen for everyone.”
He spoke about the importance of building trust.
“Trust takes work and it takes effort. It takes tears, it takes sweat and it can be lost in a second,” he said. “But you've got to be willing to put in that work. Because I can't come into this room with people that don't know me and say, trust me.” The most important thing in law enforcement, he added, is “understanding that we’re in the people business.”
In conclusion, Brito said, “I am honored to be here, and let's get to work.”
