April 9, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

UCLA Police Chief John Thomas Departs Amid Fallout From Campus Protest Response

Departure Follows Criticism of UCLA’s Handling of Violent Attack on Students

UCLA Police Chief John Thomas has officially left his position, according to a brief social media statement from the UCLA Police Department. His last day was December 10, 2024. Captain Scott Scheffler has been appointed interim police chief while the university searches for a permanent replacement.

Chief Thomas’ departure comes seven months after a night of vigilante violence on April 30, when a mob of approximately 100 people attacked the Palestine Solidarity Encampment on campus. The incident, which stretched into the early hours of May 1, left students, faculty, and journalists on their own and without any protection during an attack where pepper spray, fireworks, and blunt instruments were used to attempt to break into the encampment. 

During the four-hour assault, neither the UCLA administrators, the UCLA Police Department, private security, nor the Los Angeles Police Department intervened until Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ordered LAPD to respond at 1:47 a.m. 

The night’s events seem out of the ordinary because nearly any time a group of protesters gathered since 2020 in Los Angeles, police are immediately dispatched with riot gear, “less lethal” weapons, and shields in short order, usually in under an hour. 

Thomas was also criticized for the LAPD and CHP raid on the encampment on the night of May 1 during which 200 students and others were arrested. Students were shot with rubber bullets from “less lethal” weapons, tear gas, batons, and flash bangs after enduring the previous night’s attack. During a CAIR question and answer session, Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt, a Vice-Chancellor at the time, refused to answer student questions about who made the decision, implying that the decision was out of his hands.

Thomas was “temporarily reassigned” after the attack but up until this week, no other information had been released by UCPD regarding Thomas’ employment. 

In the wake of Chief Thomas’ departure, Wade Stern, president of the Federated University Peace Officers Association (FUPOA), issued a statement criticizing UCLA leadership and defending Thomas’ record. Stern argued that UCLA administrators failed to provide clear directives or involve the police department in planning for campus protests, resulting in disorganized and ineffective responses.

“The departure of former UCLA Police Chief John Thomas underscores the glaring lack of accountability among UCLA administrators for the disorganized and ineffective response to last spring’s campus protests,” Stern said.

Stern added, “As we have said since May, the UCLA administration owns the failure of any protest response, and the public should reject their attempts to shift blame to law enforcement. The recently released “Independent Investigation & After-Action Review” on the UCLA response to the protests in April-May is a damming indictment of the UCLA campus leadership. Issuing reports and making empty promises of corrective action without holding any administrators accountable is both unacceptable and emblematic of systemic negligence. Chief Thomas, a dedicated leader, deserves far better than to be scapegoated for the administration’s repeated failures and poor decision-making. This situation demands accountability and meaningful reform, not deflection.”

Rick Braziel and UCLA have not released any statements or a response to the FUPOA statement.

in NEWS
Related Posts

Disabled Students Sue UCLA, Citing Unsafe Conditions and Accessibility Failures

April 8, 2025

April 8, 2025

Federal Lawsuit Alleges UCLA Neglects Rights of Disabled Students Two disabled students have filed a federal lawsuit against the University...

Hundreds Gather in L.A. for Trans Rights Rally Led by Actress Laverne Cox

April 8, 2025

April 8, 2025

LGBTQ+ Leaders, Allies Call for Action at L.A. Trans Liberation Now! Event A powerful show of unity, pride, and resistance...

LA Protests Draw Thousands in Rebuke of Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s DOGE Cuts

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

Marches Target Federal Layoffs, Program Cuts, and Attacks on Civil Rights Demonstrators filled city streets across Southern California on Saturday,...

City of West Hollywood to Hold Public Hearing on Future Social Services Programs

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

City Seeks Community Insight on Unmet Needs and Future Program Priorities The City of West Hollywood is inviting residents to...

Louisiana Double Murder Suspect Arrested in Near Culver City With Loaded Guns, Body Armor

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

Marina Del Rey OfficersTraffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Fugitive Wanted in Parents’ Deaths A Louisiana man wanted for the...

A Dozen UCLA Student’s Visas Are Canceled After Federal Crackdown on Political Activism Announced

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

UC International Students Caught in Political Crossfire as Visas Are Pulled Over the past week, more than 36 students and...

Malibu Tech CEO Convicted in $20 Million Investor Celebrity Fraud Scheme

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

Tech CEO Convicted After Lavish Lifestyle Funded by Fake Promises Bernhard Eugen Fritsch, 63, of Malibu, was found guilty late...

Venice Man With Alzheimer’s Reported Missing; Police Seek Public’s Help

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

Richard Hunter, 79, Disappeared After Leaving His Home Saturday Morning Authorities and family members are seeking the public’s help in...

Spring Staycation: Santa Monica Invites Locals with Exclusive Hotel Deals

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

Los Angeles Residents Can Vacation Without Leaving Town Santa Monica Travel & Tourism is inviting Los Angeles County residents to...

West Hollywood Proposes Zoning Overhaul to Tackle Housing Crisis

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

Zoning Changes Could Bring More Affordable Homes to WeHo  In response to the ongoing housing crisis that has left thousands...

BuildStrong is Leading the Effort to Rebuild the Pacific Palisades

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

The recent wildfires in the Pacific Palisades caused extensive property damage, leaving many residents unsure about how to move forward....

The BW in Brentwood Sells for $744K Per Unit, Sets New LA Benchmark

April 6, 2025

April 6, 2025

LA’s Priciest Apartment Deal in Years Just Closed in Brentwood Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap,...

Genghis Cohen Leaving Fairfax Home After Four Decades

April 6, 2025

April 6, 2025

Chinese Food & Music Spot Genghis Cohen Is on the Move After more than four decades of serving New York-style...

Iconic Studio’s Departure Leaves Century City Facing Major Real Estate Shift

April 6, 2025

April 6, 2025

Once a Stable Real Estate Base, Century City Now Faces Renewed Uncertainty Century City, long considered a rare stronghold in...

Los Angeles Housing Department Ill-Equipped to Enforce Tenant Harassment Law

April 6, 2025

April 6, 2025

Thousands of Angelenos Report Harassment, Few Landlords Face Penalties A recent audit by the Los Angeles City Controller has found...