UCLA Declares New Campus Safety Office Following Violent Protests

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California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers detain protestors while clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment after dispersal orders were given at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus on May 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. The camp was declared ‘unlawful’ by the university and scores of protestors who refused to leave were detained during the operation. Pro-Palestinian encampments have sprung up at college campuses around the country with some protestors calling for schools to divest from Israeli interests amid the ongoing war in Gaza. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
5:20 PM – Monday, May 6, 2024

Following campus turmoil over pro-Palestinian demonstrations, Chancellor Gene Block announced the newly established Office of Campus Safety to oversee policing and emergency management, and on Monday, UCLA will resume regular campus activities.

A new office dedicated to campus safety will be established by UCLA, following last week’s violent outburst at a pro-Palestine protest encampment.

When counter-protesters attacked the encampment overnight on Wednesday for hours without any police assistance, dozens of people were injured. On Thursday, while police were making arrests, rubber bullets were shot at certain unruly demonstrators.

Block declared on Sunday in a message to students that “urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations,” and that he is conducting a “thorough investigation of our security processes.”

He also noted that emergency response and campus police will come under the scope of the newly established Office of Public Safety. Rick Braziel, a former chief of police in Sacramento, will be leading the office.

Additionally, the university announced that Monday is the first day of in-session classes, as opposed to remote classes, following the protests that caused all of last week’s classes to be canceled.

The California Highway Patrol claimed that last week, more than 200 UCLA students were taken into custody.

Chancellor Gene Block then sent the following message to the campus community, which reads:

“Dear Bruin Community: Protecting the safety of our community underpins everything we do at UCLA. Our students, faculty and staff can only learn, work and thrive in an environment where they feel secure.

In the past week, our campus has been shaken by events that have disturbed this sense of safety and strained trust within our community. In light of this, both UCLA and the UC Office of the President have committed to a thorough investigation of our security processes. But one thing is already clear: To best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations.

I am therefore taking several actions to significantly alter our campus safety structure. These decisions were not made lightly — but my leadership team and I feel that decisive change is needed to help maintain a safe campus environment.

Effective immediately, I am moving oversight and management of UCLA PD and the Office of Emergency Management from the Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor to a newly created Office of Campus Safety, whose leader reports directly to me. It is clear that UCLA needs a unit and leader whose sole responsibility is campus safety to guide us through tense times. This organizational structure, which elevates our safety and emergency management operations, has proven to be an effective one at other major universities across the country.

Leading the Office of Campus Safety as its inaugural associate vice chancellor is Rick Braziel, who brings to the position more than 30 years of public safety service, including five years as chief of police for the City of Sacramento. Braziel has also served as an instructor in community policing and has led reviews of law enforcement agencies and police responses.

Additionally, I have created a formal advisory group with expert leaders who will partner with AVC Braziel. Members of this advisory group include UC Davis Chief of Police and Coordinator of the Council of UC Chiefs of Police Joe Farrow, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Professor of Health Policy and Management Vickie Mays and UC Office of the President Systemwide Director of Community Safety Jody Stiger. I am confident that AVC Braziel, in partnership with this advisory group, will provide effective new leadership of our safety and emergency management operations.

The well-being of our students, faculty and staff is paramount. These actions are essential for creating a secure environment where everyone at UCLA can confidently pursue their studies and careers.”

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