Brown University’s Campus Safety Chief Faces Scrutiny Following Tragic Shooting
In the wake of a devastating mass shooting at Brown University that claimed two lives and left nine injured, the university’s campus safety leadership has come under intense scrutiny. Rodney Chatman, who serves as Brown’s vice president for public safety and emergency management, has maintained a relatively low profile during the ongoing investigation. His career path has included positions at several universities including the University of Cincinnati, the University of Dayton, and the University of Utah—the latter tenure being controversial with allegations (later found to be unfounded) about wearing a badge and carrying a gun before being officially sworn in. Chatman joined Brown in 2021, bringing what the university president described as “an outstanding track record in law enforcement” along with values that would help advance campus safety.
However, Chatman’s leadership had already been called into question before the shooting, with two local police unions issuing votes of “no confidence” in October. These votes expressed “deep concern” about the direction of the Department of Public Safety under his guidance. The recent tragedy has only intensified scrutiny of campus security measures, particularly regarding building access and the absence of security cameras that might have helped identify the shooter, who remains at large. In his limited public comments since the shooting, Chatman explained that three outdoor sirens on campus failed to activate due to how quickly the incident unfolded.
The Department of Public Safety at Brown has placed significant emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives during Chatman’s tenure. Upon his hiring, Brown University President Christina Paxson highlighted not just his law enforcement experience but also his ability to “engage our full community in advancing safety on campus in every aspect.” The department regularly celebrates diversity within its ranks, including a special recognition of female officers on International Women’s Day. Chatman has also publicly advocated for campus police departments to avoid displaying images of weapons or tactical maneuvers, suggesting such imagery could cause community anxiety.
Brown’s public safety department actively engages in community outreach through listening sessions where students can voice concerns about police-community relations and campus safety programming. These sessions also provide opportunities for students to learn about the department’s Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) and offer feedback. Since 2016, the department has focused on diversity initiatives, stating on its website that “having a diverse group of personnel will have the capacity to foster trust with the community we serve as well as to inform and enrich our organizational climate.” The department has even conducted specialized training on cultural competency and community engagement with diverse populations.
The department’s commitment to diversity is prominently featured in its official statements. One webpage declares, “We make every effort to anticipate, plan for, and respond to the needs of our diverse and ever-changing community.” Another states, “Public Safety works diligently to build and sustain trust and positive relationships with the diverse community we serve at Brown.” The department explicitly acknowledges racial justice issues, noting, “As communities all across the country continue to deal with racial unrest and police reform, we support the University’s urge to confront racial injustice.” They further commit to “establishing and building positive and respectful community relations, especially with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).”
This focus on diversity initiatives has drawn criticism from some, including Fox News contributor Nicole Parker, who suggested that “diversity was a higher priority than campus safety” at Brown. In response to inquiries about the balance between DEI initiatives and security measures, university officials directed reporters to a recent statement outlining enhanced security protocols following the tragedy. The shooting has claimed the lives of Ella Cook from Alabama and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, an Uzbek national residing in Virginia, leaving a community in mourning and raising difficult questions about the effectiveness of campus security practices. As the investigation continues with the shooter still unidentified and at large, Brown University faces the challenging task of reconciling its progressive values with the fundamental need to ensure the physical safety of its campus community.
