Following a recent incident on campus, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has made the decision to temporarily replace its chief of police, John Thomas. Thomas has been reassigned as the university investigates the actions of its officers during a violent altercation.
The decision to remove Chief Thomas comes as a result of UCLA police facing criticism for their delayed intervention in a confrontation between masked counter-protesters and a pro-Palestinian student encampment.
The campus police allegedly delayed their intervention for more than two hours, which has sparked strong disapproval, even from the office of the California governor, who labelled the response as “unacceptable”.
Mary Osako, UCLA’s vice chancellor for strategic communications, announced on Tuesday that Chief Thomas would be reassigned. The decision was made in light of an ongoing review of the university’s security procedures. UCLA Capt Gawin Gibson will step in temporarily while the investigation is ongoing.
Rick Braziel, the vice chancellor leading the newly established Office of Campus Safety, made the university’s decision to replace Chief Thomas. This decision reflects UCLA’s dedication to improving campus safety and promoting the well-being of the community by conducting a thorough evaluation of security procedures.
Although the exact reasons for Chief Thomas’ reassignment were not immediately revealed, the decision faced backlash from the Federated University Peace Officers Association, which represents 250 police officers across the University of California system.
The union expressed dissatisfaction with the university administration’s handling of the protest response and dismissed any attempts to shift blame onto law enforcement.
A significant event took place at UCLA, leading to the arrest of over 200 individuals and the subsequent closure of the campus. This incident happened not long after a similar confrontation unfolded at Columbia University in New York City.
Protests at Columbia, inspired by the conflict in Gaza, have led to similar demonstrations at universities across the country. These demonstrations are urging institutions to cut financial ties with Israel and affiliated companies.
During this time, Capt. Gawin Gibson, a highly experienced member of UCLA’s police force with 28 years of service, will step in as the interim chief. Meanwhile, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block is set to testify before the Republican-led House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce in Washington DC, alongside administrators from Rutgers University and Northwestern University, on Thursday.
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