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Longtime members of the Bruin Alum and Los Angeles Police Department Craig Valenzuela have been appointed as UCLA’s new police chief, the school announced Monday.
Growing up in Harbor City, Valenzuela will begin a new job at the Westwood campus in September.
“We are delighted to bring Chief Valenzuela back to UCLA to serve this important role,” Prime Minister Julio Frenck said. “Safety in our UCLA community is a top priority, and Valenzuela’s best achievement in law enforcement leadership over more than 20 years is to become the ideal leader of UCLA’s police department as UCLA prepares to host Olympic and Paralympic athletes around the world, and there is the best Valenzuela in 2028. Police in the 21st Century.”
Valenzuela joined LAPD after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UCLA in 1996. He played several roles in his three-year career at the agency, including commander of the North Hollywood Patrol Division and the division’s Elite Metropolitan Division.
Valenzuela is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
“We are excited to bring Chief Valenzuela back to UCLA,” said Steve Lully, deputy prime minister on campus and deputy prime minister for community safety. “He has participated in a national search and competes among exemplary leaders across the country. Prime Minister Frenk says UCLA’s safety and security is his “meta rate.” When the administrator was in charge of carrying out that mission, I am humbled, honored and grateful for Chief Valentzela to join our team. ”
Former UCLA police chief John Thomas left the school’s police station in December. He resigned a few months after he launched violence on campus at a pro-Palestinian camp in early May 2024, facing criticism for oversight of the spring protests.
The demonstrations at UCLA became part of a nationwide campus movement against the Israeli Hamas War. At UCLA, law enforcement in May ordered more than 1,000 protesters to dissolve the campus as tensions rose on campus.
Counter Demonterters attacked the camp, injuring about 12 people. In June, some protesters on campus were arrested after attempting to establish a new camp.
The University of California Independence Review, published late last year, found that UCLA was unable to protect students due to a “very chaotic” decision-making process, a lack of communication between campus leaders and police, and other shortages that led to institutional paralysis. A review conducted by a national law enforcement consulting agency found that UCLA has no detailed plans to handle key protests.
Interim Chief Scott Schaeffler has been leading the division since December 2024.
The new chief was selected by a committee of faculty, administrators, students and staff from UCLA and law enforcement executives.
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