LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� The police chief at the University of California, Los Angeles, has been reassigned following criticism over his handling of recent campus demonstrations that included a .
Chief John Thomas was temporarily reassigned Tuesday "pending an examination of our security processes,鈥� said Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, in a statement released Wednesday.
The Daily Bruin reported late Tuesday that Thomas said in a text to the campus newspaper, "There鈥檚 been a lot going on and, I learned late yesterday that I鈥檓 temporarily reassigned from my duties as chief.鈥�
Neither Osako nor Thomas identified his reassigned role.
The reassignment of Thomas follows UCLA's May 5 announcement of the creation of a new chief safety officer position to oversee campus security operations.
Thomas told the in early May that he did 鈥渆verything I could鈥� to provide security and keep students safe during days of strife that left UCLA shaken.
But his response was roundly criticized and prompted Chancellor Gene Block to order a review of campus security procedures. Block then announced that Rick Braziel, a former Sacramento police chief, would lead a new Office of Campus Safety that will oversee the UCLA Police Department.
鈥淭o best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations,鈥� Block said in the May 5 statement.
Sporadic disruptions continued following the and some 200 arrests on April 30.
Block has been summoned to Washington by a Republican-led House committee to testify Thursday about the protests on the Los Angeles campus.
The Associated Press
