The police chief at the University of California, Los Angeles has been reappointed following criticism of his response to recent campus demonstrations, which included a mob attacking a pro-Palestinian encampment.
Chief John Thomas was temporarily reassigned Tuesday “pending an investigation into our security processes,” UCLA Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications Mary Osako said in a statement Wednesday.
“There’s been a lot going on and I found out late yesterday that I would be temporarily removed from my duties as chief,” Thomas said in a text message to the campus newspaper, The Daily Bruin reported late Tuesday.
Neither Osako nor Thomas disclosed their reassigned roles.
Thomas’ reappointment follows UCLA’s May 5 announcement of the creation of a new chief safety officer position to oversee campus security operations.
On April 30, counter-protesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment, throwing traffic cones, pepper spray, and destroying barricades.
The fighting continued for several hours before police intervened, but no arrests were made.
At least 15 protesters were injured.
Thomas told the Los Angeles Times in early May that he “did everything I could” to ensure safety and keep students safe during the days-long conflict that rocked UCLA.
But his response was widely criticized, and Chancellor Gene Block ordered a review of campus security procedures.
Block then announced that former Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel would lead the new Office of Campus Safety, which will oversee the UCLA Police Department.
“To best protect our communities going forward, we need to urgently change the way we manage our safety activities,” Block said in a May 5 statement.
Sporadic unrest continued after a pro-Palestinian encampment was cleared on April 30 and around 200 people were arrested.
Bullock was summoned to Washington by a Republican-led House committee on Thursday to testify about the protests at the Los Angeles campus.
The union representing more than 250 police officers who guard UC’s 10 campuses criticized Thomas’ reassignment.
“UCLA officials are responsible for the failed response to the protests, and the public should reject their attempts to shift the blame onto the police,” Wade Stern, president of the Commonwealth Association of University Police Officers, said in a statement Wednesday.
“The response to the protests appears to be ad hoc and lacking the structured planning mandated by the Unification Church system.”
