UCLA Police Department head takes temporary leave, affirmation from the senior administrator.
John Thomas, currently occupying the position of Chief of Police at UCLA, has been temporarily repositioned, according to a recent announcement made by Mary Osako, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications. The statement, released on a Wednesday, provided no further details on Thomas' new responsibilities or his connection to the police department. UCLA has not provided a timeline for when Thomas' reassignment will come to an end, or if it will be a permanent one.
On 30th of April, there was a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA that was assaulted by counterprotesters. The authorities were present on the scene for an extended period, and a criminal investigation is currently underway. Additionally, a "independent external review" of the actions taken by UCLA has been requested by the University of California President.
On Tuesday, Captain Gawin Gibson was appointed as the acting Chief of Police, Osako revealed. CNN has attempted to obtain comment from the UCLA Police Department.
Thomas assumed the role of Chief of Police earlier in the year, having served as the interim chief since late 2022. His appointment was stated in a post on the police department's website, announcing his new role.
Just a few days ago, UCLA's Chancellor, Gene Block, detailed changes that would be made to the university's security operations. The university created the Office of Campus Safety, and Block emphasized the need for a dedicated unit and leader for campus safety. This model has reportedly been successful at other major universities in the country.
Tomorrow, Chancellor Block is set to give testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding antisemitism on the UCLA campus.
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In light of the recent pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA, the authorities, including US, were present to maintain order and ensure safety. After the temporary leave of Chief John Thomas, US-based news outlet CNN has reached out to the UCLA Police Department for comment.
Source: edition.cnn.com
