UCLA hires Los Angeles Police Department Cmdr. Steve Lurie to lead security overhaul following protest violence

UCLA has hired a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and a senior commander to lead the campus security office created eight months ago after violent melees at a pro-Palestinian encampment last spring Established, the camp is one of the darkest parts of the school.

Los Angeles Police Department Cmdr. Steve Lurie, who previously ran the department’s Western Bureau, will begin serving as vice chancellor on Feb. 1.

He will succeed former Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel, who was hired in May by then-President Gene Block as the university’s chief security officer. His new role includes responsibility for California UCLA Police Department, Office of Emergency Management and other safety measures.

UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk said in announcing Lurie’s appointment Friday that Lurie’s “track record — combined with his leadership experience, first-hand knowledge of our campus and his academic insights as an adjunct professor of law—making him uniquely qualified to lead UCLA’s efforts to strengthen and connect our campus safety initiatives.

“He will take a community-informed, collaborative approach to campus safety that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of those who call UCLA home,” said Frenk, who takes office this month. “Our goal is to ensure Our policies and practices are not only effective, but fair and respect the safety, rights and well-being of all brown bears.”

Lurie received her undergraduate degree in anthropology from UCLA in 1994 and is currently a professor of criminal justice at the University of Southern California. As a detective, he worked domestic violence, robberies, sex crimes and murder cases. He also worked for the unit that investigated police shootings and served as the department’s liaison to the Los Angeles Jewish community.

“I am honored and excited to return to my alma mater in a new role,” Lurie said in an interview.

“As a proud alumnus, I recognize the impact my UCLA education has had on my professional and personal development…I look forward to hearing and learning more about safety issues in the Bruin community during my first 100 days on campus. , as a ‘safe’ university is defined as much more than the absence of crime.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonald praised Lurie, saying the department will “miss Steve’s talent and dedication to the LAPD. But we are pleased that if he must leave, he will continue to be a UCLA excellent partner.

Lurie will take over the campus security operation, which has been widely criticized since the spring, when poor coordination between UCLA police, the Los Angeles Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies led to a mob attack on a supporters, causing hours-long delays. Both mentioned coordination failures.

A November report by 21st Century Policing Solutions, an outside policing firm hired by the University of California, reached a similar conclusion.

“With no written plan in place, UCLA administrators are trapped in a chaotic process in which they need to make difficult decisions…Amid the ongoing chaos, it is unclear who has final decision-making authority and a lack of consensus on general Understood processes reported a lack of ability to respond quickly to rapidly changing events and dynamic environments on campus.

During his tenure with the Los Angeles Police Department, Lurie was closely involved in responding to campus protests. The LAPD Commission report quotes Lurie multiple times as saying that as early as 5 a.m. on April 25, then-UCLA Police Chief John Thomas informed him that UCLA “could, over time, Need some assistance,” while tents were set up in Royce Plaza.

Reports and public records show that Lurie was also involved in the LAPD response later in the week, including learning that UCLA police were overwhelmed by counterprotesters on the night of April 30 — though those reports were consistent with police There is a lag between mutual aid requests.

UCLA established a new campus safety office last year to better coordinate campus safety and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

After taking office, Basile reassigned Thomas, who left the department in December. It’s unclear whether Thomas was fired or resigned.

Brazilian universities are also facing criticism as the fall semester begins, with an increase in security personnel worrying some students, faculty and staff and new, sweeping restrictions on unauthorized protests.

Basil remained in Sacramento and never moved to Los Angeles, earning a monthly salary of $52,000. UCLA did not immediately disclose Lurie’s salary.

Times staff writer Libor Jany contributed to this report.