In the wake of a violent pro-Palestinian protest at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the campus police chief, John Thomas, has been temporarily reassigned. The decision follows a wave of criticism over the university's delayed response to the hours-long melee, during which security officers failed to intervene.
On the night of April 30, a pro-Palestinian encampment at the university became the target of a violent attack. Counterprotesters, many of whom did not appear to be students, instigated the assault, beating people with poles, kicking, throwing objects, and spraying chemicals into the air. Despite the arrival of officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, no arrests were made that night.
Thomas has been under intense scrutiny for the university's handling of the incident. "Given Chief Thomas’ mishandling of keeping our community safe and ear-splitting calls for him to step aside, this had to happen,” said a source, who was not authorized to speak publicly. The source also expressed concerns about the university's ability to handle security for the 2028 Summer Olympics, which UCLA is set to help host.
In response to the incident, UCLA has created a new Office of Campus Safety, led by Rick Braziel, a former Sacramento police chief. The office will oversee campus security operations and conduct a thorough examination of the university's security processes. "UCLA’s Office of Campus Safety is leading a thorough examination of our security processes aimed at enhancing the well-being and safety of our community,” said Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications.
Gawin Gibson, previously the captain of the university’s operations bureau, has been named the acting police chief. Thomas' reassignment and the creation of the new safety office come as part of a broader shake-up in the university's approach to campus safety.
However, the Federated University Peace Officers Association, which represents more than 250 officers across the UC system, has criticized the decision to reassign Thomas. "The UCLA administration owns the failure of any protest response, and the public should reject their attempts to shift blame to law enforcement,” said Wade Stern, the association's president.
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