A scathing independent report says UCLA’s executive branch suffered from “institutional paralysis” and “an inability to respond effectively and protect students from violence” when protesters clashed on campus this spring. It is said that
The report, conducted by 21st Century Policing Solutions, was released months after violence erupted outside a pro-Palestinian encampment on UCLA’s campus. The consulting firm reviewed thousands of documents and interviewed several current and former UCLA administrators, faculty, students and law enforcement officials.
Despite similar incidents occurring at other universities across the country, authorities failed to prepare for the encampment’s formation and the ensuing violence. The lack of planning made decision-making time “chaotic” because it wasn’t clear who on campus had the authority to make difficult choices, the report said.
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This lacked the ability to respond quickly to rapidly changing events, such as when pro-Israel counter-protesters arrived on the night of April 30th.
Law enforcement members told investigators they felt no one was in charge that night, even though UCLA police responded when the violence erupted.
As a result, Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol officers were forced to take charge of violent incidents, even though they were not properly briefed on the nature of the protests or the geography of the campus.
Los Angeles, California – May 2: US police arrest a pro-Palestinian demonstrator as people protest at UCLA on May 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, California, USA. (Photo by Grace Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“Because UCLA PD did not provide this critical information, we mutually determined how outside law enforcement would become involved,” the report states. “That was not the way the operation was supposed to work.”
Months after the violence, UCLA and UCLAPD should develop a systematic plan for the short and medium term before further disruption occurs, the report said. Recommendations include maintaining a clear and direct chain of command for decision-making and training programs to teach police officers how to act in extreme situations.
The University of California released a response to the report Thursday, saying it was conducting a “thorough and detailed investigation” into where administrators fell short in responding to the violence.
“Last spring, as conflict unfolded at universities across the country, we realized the limitations of our traditional approach. We are taking a hard look at where we fell short and how we can improve going forward. “This review and these recommendations will help ensure that we develop workable plans and policies to prevent similar events from happening again,” said University of California President Michael V. Drake. Ta.
In May, UCLA appointed the former Sacremento police chief to lead its new Office of Campus Safety in response to the protests.
