SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Former Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel was recently tapped by UCLA to lead its Office of Campus Safety as its inaugural associate vice chancellor.
University Chancellor Gene D. Block said changes to campus security come as recent events disturbed the sense of safety among the community.
Students and community members erected tent encampments at universities, including UCLA, to call for schools to divest from Israel as the war grinds on in Gaza. The Associated Press reports more than 2,400 arrests on 46 campuses national wide related to the anti-war protests.
Block said he also created a formal advisory group, including the UC Davis police chief, to partner with Braziel in their safety and emergency management operations.
"The well-being of our students, faculty and staff is paramount. These actions are essential for creating a secure environment where everyone at UCLA can confidently pursue their studies and careers," Block said Monday.
Braziel served as Sacramento police chief for five years before retiring in 2012.
He was also selected by the U.S. Justice Department in 2022 to join the team reviewing police response to the Uvalde, Texas shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead.
