UCLA’s police chief has been “temporarily reassigned” following chaos at a pro-Palestine encampment on the school’s campus.
Chief John Thomas was given a different job “pending an examination of our security processes,” UCLA Vice Chancellor Mary Osako said in a Wednesday statement. Osako did not describe Thomas’ new position.
He came under strong criticism after a pro-Israel group attacked the pro-Palestine student encampment on UCLA’s campus on the night of April 30.
Clashes between the two groups lasted for three hours, with several people suffering injuries as fireworks were detonated, pepper spray was blasted and punches flew. Cops stood by watching the entire scene unfold before finally separating the two groups and driving the pro-Israel counter-protesters away.
“It gives people impunity to come to our campus as a rampaging mob,” UCLA professor Ananya Roy told the L.A. Times after the ruckus. “The word is out: They can do this repeatedly and get away with it. I am ashamed of my university.”
Other California law enforcement officials criticized Thomas in the wake of the incident, according to the L.A. Times. In an interview with the paper, he defended himself and said cops waited to take action until they had sufficient force.
Gawin Gibson is stepping in as UCLA’s interim police chief, Osaka said. He officially took charge on Tuesday. The campus police department is now managed by the school’s Office of Campus Safety, which was created following the protest.
One day after the violent clashes at the encampment, a massive police force moved in and dismantled the structure, arresting dozens of demonstrators. No one has been arrested in connection with the prior night’s brawl.
With News Wire Services
