UCLA security chief addresses protest management, heavy policing scrutinized

Lauren Taylor

U-C-L-A IS DRAWING CRITICISM FOR HOW CAMPUS OFFICIALS ARE HANDLING SAFETY ISSUES FOLLOWING VIOLENT PROTESTS EARLIER THIS YEAR.

SOME ARE CALLING IT A “MILITARIZED CAMPUS.” 

IN THE SPRING.. PROTESTS BROKE OUT AT U-C-L-A OVER THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR … LEADING TO CLASHES BETWEEN POLICE AND PROTESTERS. 

OFFICERS TOOK DOWN A PRO-PALESTINIAN ENCAMPMENT … WHICH ENDED WITH STUDENTS BEING INJURED AND DOZENS GETTING ARRESTED. 

SINCE THEN, U-C-L-A OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO BUCKLE DOWN ON CAMPUS SAFETY. BEEFING UP SECURITY WHILE WORKING TO BALANCE PROTESTERS’ FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

THE MAIN CONCERN FROM PEOPLE ON CAMPUS IS TOO MANY POLICE AND SECURITY OFFICERS … CREATING AN UNCOMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT.

A STUDENT TOLD THE L-A TIMES IT’S QUOTE – “COMPLETE OVERKILL.”

A FACULTY MEMBER SAID THE HEAVY PRESENCE OF OFFICERS IS RAMPING UP TENSIONS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR RACIAL PROFILING.

ANOTHER FACULTY MEMBER SAID SHE WAS SHOCKED TO COUNT 14 OFFICERS ON A HALF MILE WALK THROUGH CAMPUS.

IN MAY, THE SCHOOL HIRED RICK BRAZIEL (brazil)  – A FORMER SACRAMENTO POLICE CHIEF – TO BE THE HEAD OF SECURITY. 

HE REVEALED HIS STRATEGY FOR MAKING IMPROVEMENTS WHICH INCLUDES HIRING OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS TO DO A DEEP DIVE OF SECURITY STAFFING LEVELS, REVAMPING THEIR PROTEST RESPONSE PLAN, ADDING MORE TRAINING AND HIRING A COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST.

BRAZIEL ALSO SAID HE’S WORKING TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND HE HOPES TO CREATE A CIVILIAN SAFETY STAFF THAT MODELS COMMUNITY POLICING. 

WHILE BRAZIEL AGREES THAT A LARGE POLICE PRESENCE ON CAMPUS CAN BE COUNTER-EFFECTIVE … HE SAYS THEY MUST BE PREPARED. 

ON MONDAY, U-C-L-A STUDENTS GATHERED ON CAMPUS TO MARK ONE YEAR SINCE THE START OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR. 

BRAZIEL SAID HE AND HIS TEAM DEPLOYED ALL CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS AND BROUGHT IN OFFICERS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO STANDBY ON CAMPUS.

HE SAID HE KEPT MOST OFFICERS OUT OF SIGHT INSIDE BUILDINGS .. CLOSE ENOUGH TO INTERVENE IF NEEDED … ADDING QUOTE – “IF YOU DRESS FOR A RIOT, YOU’RE GOING TO GET A RIOT.”

WHILE THERE WERE SOME TENSE MOMENTS… POLICE DETERMINED PROTESTERS WERE NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS AND THE NIGHT ENDED WITH NO ARRESTS OR SIGNIFICANT CONFRONTATIONS. 

FOR SAN I’M LAUREN TAYLOR. 

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