Statement on UCLA organizational change by University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D. (May 5, 2024):
Today, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block announced the appointment of Rick Braziel as UCLA’s new Associate Vice Chancellor for Campus Safety. Braziel is a former chief of the Sacramento Police Department who brings to UCLA a wealth of experience in community policing, emergency response operations, and institutional reviews. I fully support this appointment and believe that it is an important step towards restoring confidence in our public safety systems and procedures.
In the days ahead, I will be announcing details about the independent external review of what happened last week at UCLA. It is critical that the questions that I and many others have are answered by a respected and impartial investigator.
Finally, I urge the UC community and any visitors to our campuses to treat each other with dignity and respect, and to maintain a civil and safe environment for all — even when protesting contentious issues and in highly emotional situations. The University of California has a rich tradition of robust expression, one we want to preserve in a safe and respectful manner. When peaceful protests become magnets for violence or impede our community’s access to classes and their employment, it is imperative that we take the actions necessary to protect our communities and restore access.