UCLA hired a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department to lead the eight-month-old Campus Safety Office, created in the wake of last spring’s violent brawl at a pro-Palestinian camp that was one of the university’s darkest parts. The top commander was hired.
Steve Lurie, who previously served as Los Angeles Police Department commander and oversaw the department’s Western Division, will begin his role as vice chancellor on February 1st.
He replaces former Sacramento Police Chief Rick Brazil, who was hired in May by then-Provost Gene Block as the university’s head of safety, taking responsibility for the UCLA Police Department, Office of Emergency Management and other safety efforts. He plans to take on new positions including: .
In announcing Lurie’s appointment on Friday, UCLA President Julio Frenk said Lurie’s “achievement combined with his leadership experience, first-hand knowledge of our campus, and academic acumen as an adjunct professor of law make him an excellent candidate.” is uniquely qualified to lead efforts to strengthen and connect UCLA.” Our commitment to campus safety. ”
“He will take a community-informed and collaborative approach to campus safety that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the people who call UCLA home,” said Frank, who started this month. ” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that our policies and practices are not only effective, but fair, while respecting the safety, rights and well-being of all Bruins.”
Lurie earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from UCLA in 1994 and is a professor of criminal justice at USC. As a detective, he worked on domestic violence, robbery, sex crimes, and murder cases. He also worked on a unit that investigated officer-involved shootings and was the department’s liaison with Los Angeles’ Jewish community.
“I am honored and excited to return to my alma mater in this new role,” Lurie said in an interview.
“As a proud alumnus, I recognize the impact that my education at UCLA has had on my professional and personal growth…I spent my first 100 days on campus, and I am committed to the safety of the Bruin community. We look forward to hearing about your concerns and learning more. “College is defined by more than crime-free.”
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell praised Lurie and said the department “will miss Steve’s talent and dedication to the LAPD.” But even if he has to leave, we are happy that he will continue to be a great partner for UCLA. ”
Lurie will take over a campus safety mission that has been widely criticized since the spring for poor coordination between the UCLA Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies. The response resulted in a mob storming Propolis and a delay of several hours. They spent the night in a Palestinian camp on April 30th and May 1st. A Los Angeles Police Commission report and a report from the Republican-led House Education Committee in the fall cited a failure to coordinate.
A November report from an outside police firm hired by UC 21st Century Policing Solutions reached a similar conclusion.
“With no codified plan in place, UCLA administrators struggled to reach a commonly understood agreement amidst ongoing chaos and no clarity on who would hold final decision-making authority. engaged in chaotic processes that required difficult decisions to be made and the ability to respond quickly to rapidly changing events and dynamic situations on campus. is largely absent,” the report states.
Lurie was closely involved in responding to campus protests in his role with the Los Angeles Police Department. The Los Angeles Police Commission report cites Lurie multiple times, and then-UCLA Police Chief John Thomas said that at 5 a.m. on April 25, when a tent was pitched on Royce Quad. He said he was notified that UCLA “may need some assistance as the day progresses.”
Lurie also participated in LAPD responses later in the week, including one on the night of April 30 when UCLA police were told they were overpowered by counterprotesters, according to reports and public records. However, there was a time lag between these reports and requests for mutual assistance to the police.
Last year, when it established a new Campus Safety Office, UCLA sought to better coordinate campus safety to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In taking the position, Mr. Braziel reappointed Mr. Thomas, who retired from the department in December. It is unclear whether Mr. Thomas was fired or resigned.
Brazil also faced criticism as universities began the fall semester with increased security presence, raising concerns for some students, faculty and staff, and wide-ranging new restrictions on unauthorized protests. faced.
Brazil, who stayed in Sacramento and did not move to Los Angeles, earned a monthly salary of $52,000. Lurie’s salary was not immediately disclosed by UCLA.
Times staff writer Libor Jany contributed to this report.
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