UCLA Hires LAPD Cmdr. Steve Lurie to Lead Safety Overhaul Following Protest Violence
New Campus Safety Official Brings 27 Years of Experience to the Role
LAPD Cmdr. Steve Lurie, a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, has been hired to lead UCLA’s eight-month-old Office of Campus Safety, created in the wake of a violent melee last spring at a pro-Palestinian encampment.
Background
Lurie, who previously oversaw the department’s West Bureau, will begin his role as an associate vice chancellor on February 1, replacing Rick Braziel, the former Sacramento police chief who was hired in May by then-Chancellor Gene Block to be the university’s chief safety official.
Appointment Announcement
In announcing Lurie’s appointment, UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk said that Lurie’s “track record — combined with his leadership experience, firsthand knowledge of our campus and academic insights as an adjunct professor of law — make him uniquely qualified to lead UCLA’s efforts to strengthen and connect our campus safety initiative.”
Goals
Frenk emphasized that Lurie will take a community-informed, collaborative approach to campus safety, reflecting the diverse experiences and perspectives of those who call UCLA home. “Our goal is to ensure that our policies and practices are not only effective but also equitable, respecting the safety, rights, and well-being of all Bruins.”
About Cmdr. Lurie
Lurie received an undergraduate anthropology degree from UCLA in 1994 and is a professor of criminal justice at the University of Southern California. As a detective, he worked on domestic violence, robberies, sex crimes, and homicides. He has also worked in the unit that investigates officer-involved shootings and was a liaison for the department to the Los Angeles Jewish community.
Quote
“I am honored and excited to return to my alma mater in this new role,” Lurie said in an interview. “As a proud alum, I recognize the impact my UCLA education has had on my professional and personal development. I look forward to spending my first 100 days on campus listening and learning more about the Bruin community’s safety concerns, as a ‘safe’ university is defined by much more than the absence of crime.”
Reaction from LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell praised Lurie, saying the department would “miss Steve’s talents and dedication at the LAPD. But we are happy that if he has to leave, he will continue to be a great partner at UCLA.”
Challenges Ahead
Lurie will take over a campus safety operation that has been widely criticized since the spring, when a badly coordinated response between UCLA Police, LAPD, California Highway Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies led to an hours-long delay as a mob attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment.
A November report from an outside policing firm, 21st Century Policing Solutions, reached similar conclusions, stating that “no codified plans existed, UCLA administrators engaged in a chaotic process in which they needed to make difficult decisions… in the midst of ongoing disruption, without clarity on who maintained final decision-making authority, lacking a commonly understood process for reaching decisions, and largely lacking the ability to react quickly to fast-changing events and dynamic circumstances on campus.”
Conclusion
Cmdr. Lurie’s appointment marks a new chapter in UCLA’s efforts to strengthen and connect its campus safety initiative. As he takes on this critical role, he brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to community-informed, collaborative approach to campus safety. We look forward to seeing the positive impact he will have on the UCLA community.
FAQs
Q: What is Cmdr. Lurie’s background?
A: Cmdr. Lurie is a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, with experience as a detective and in the unit that investigates officer-involved shootings. He is also a professor of criminal justice at the University of Southern California.
Q: What is Cmdr. Lurie’s role at UCLA?
A: Cmdr. Lurie will lead the Office of Campus Safety, created in the wake of a violent melee last spring at a pro-Palestinian encampment. He will work to strengthen and connect the university’s campus safety initiative.
Q: What is the goal of the new campus safety office?
A: The goal is to ensure that campus safety policies and practices are not only effective but also equitable, respecting the safety, rights, and well-being of all Bruins.
