MORGANTOWN — When the halls of West Virginia University are mostly empty for the summer, the West Virginia University Police Department does not slow down — it’s just shifting gears.

Chief Sherry St. Clair, who began her career with the department in 1994 and has worked her way up to the top job, says summer is a time of preparation for university police.

While the academic year may be their busy time, summer is when the department gets tactical.

Just last week, WVU officers participated in a multi-day Radiological Response Exercise Program (RADRx), a highly specialized training provided by the Office of Radiological Security at Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The training, tailored specifically for WVU’s campus, included a three-hour tabletop scenario followed by two days of field exercises simulating real-world radiological threats.

“This kind of training is invaluable,” St. Clair said.

According to the chief, this training helps officers understand how to protect themselves and others in the event of an incident involving radiation, whether a known or unknown hazard.

The program also included local first-responder partners from the Morgantown Fire Department, Monongalia Emergency Medical Services, and the Monongalia County Health Department. Officers learned to apply techniques like time, distance, and shielding — all critical to staying safe during potential events.

“This is our time to train, review, and prepare,” St. Clair said. “When students come back in late July and August, we want to be more than ready.

“June is a big month for us with new student orientation. Every group gets to meet one of our officers. This is our way of introducing ourselves to parents and students, and letting them know we are here if they ever need anything,” she said.

Theft and break-ins become the primary concerns once students leave, so officers work to keep campus secure and organized during the quieter months.

Summer is not all go, go, go for police.

“This is also when we encourage our officers to take time off with their families,” St. Clair said. “It’s important to take time before the busy season starts — especially with Welcome Week in August.”

Summer is also the time for recruiting. The department is currently short four officers and interviews are being conducted during the break to ensure they’re fully staffed for the fall semester.

Collaborations continue year-round, as well. University police regularly coordinate with the Morgantown Police Department. Detectives from both departments meet monthly to compare notes to be sure no case details are overlapping.