Following a national search, the George Washington University has announced the hiring of Victor V. Brito as its new chief of the GW Police Department. He brings more than three decades of executive law enforcement experience, deep ties to the D.C. region and a longstanding commitment to community-oriented policing.
Brito most recently served six years as the chief of police for the city of Rockville, Maryland, where he led a department of nearly 100 employees and was responsible for creating and updating community policing policies and procedures for the Washington, D.C., suburb.
Prior to that, Brito served as chief of police in Hagerstown, Maryland, and spent more than 20 years in leadership roles with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., culminating in his position as assistant district commander of the Seventh District.
He will be stepping into a role that Ian Greenlee, interim chief of police, has held since October.
"On behalf of the university, I’m pleased to welcome Chief Victor Brito to the GW community. With his extensive experience in law enforcement and understanding of the higher education environment, Chief Brito brings both the expertise and collaborative spirit needed to strengthen campus safety and foster trust,” said President Ellen M. Granberg. “I look forward to seeing all that Chief Brito and his team will do as they build on our strong foundation of public safety and continue creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for all who learn, live, and work at GW. I would also like to thank Ian Greenlee for providing stability, continuity, and commitment during the period of leadership transition."
A two-time alumnus of Johns Hopkins University, Brito earned a Bachelor of Science in management and leadership and a Master of Science in management and community development. He is a graduate of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and his certifications range from fair and impartial policing training to national defense qualifications, including earning Secret Security clearance from the Department of Homeland Security.
From 2014 to 2022, Brito served as an adjunct professor at American University, teaching undergraduate criminal justice courses at the School of Public Affairs and in the Department of Justice, Law and Criminology.
Through his experience working near and visiting the GW campus for many years, Brito has developed a deep respect and appreciation for its unique culture and setting and is excited to serve as the university’s chief of police.
"I am honored to be selected as the George Washington University’s next Chief of Police,” Brito said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to shape campus safety rooted in trust, partnership and transparency. I am looking forward to working in collaboration with all of you to ensure a safe, resilient community.”
The search process that resulted in Brito’s selection was comprehensive and inclusive. The university engaged Public Sector Search & Consulting, a nationally recognized firm led by retired police chiefs with expertise in executive-level law enforcement searches, to guide and facilitate the search process.
Brito will inherit a department and university community dedicated to the preservation of safety with modern and inclusive approaches to policing. Some of Brito’s objectives, as stipulated by GW’s Division of Safety and Operations, include building and sustaining community trust, inspiring and supporting the department’s workforce, modernizing the university’s campus safety and structure, ensuring best-in-class compliance and training, forging strategic partnerships, and championing equity, inclusion and procedural justice.
“I am grateful to the students, faculty and my staff colleagues who helped us recruit Chief Brito as the next GWPD chief,” said Associate Vice President for Campus Safety Katie McDonald. “I am confident that his experience and deep local roots will strengthen the department and enhance safety in our community. I also want to thank Interim Chief Greenlee for his outstanding service over these past ten months.”
Brito will officially begin his role on Aug. 4.