Brown University’s Police Chief Under Fire for Security Lapses
Rodney Chatman, the police chief at Brown University, is facing criticism for the lax security measures that allowed a tragic shooting incident to occur on campus. The incident resulted in the deaths of two students, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokob and Ella Cook.
Chatman, who has been the subject of two votes of no confidence since joining Brown in 2021, is being called out for his leadership of the Brown Police Department. The department has been described as having a “climate of fear” and “all-time low in morale.”
One departing officer even referred to the workplace as a “toxic” and “vindictive” environment, citing instances of sexual harassment.
Despite his progressive public persona, Chatman’s tenure at Brown has been marred by controversy. Prior to joining Brown, he served as the police chief at the University of Utah, where he faced allegations of wearing a badge and carrying a gun before officially being designated a police officer.
Security experts believe that better surveillance measures, such as cameras, could have potentially deterred the shooter who had been casing the campus for weeks. Additionally, the presence of security personnel, especially on a college campus, is crucial in preventing such tragic incidents.
Chatman, a career college campus cop with experience at various institutions, has come under scrutiny for his handling of security at Brown University. The tragic shooting incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of the security measures in place at the prestigious Ivy League college.
