LA School Police chief resigns one day after school board approves 35% budget cut

Wednesday, July 1, 2020
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles School Police Chief Todd Chamberlain stepped down from his post Wednesday, less than a year after he took the job and one day after the district school board approved a 35% cut to its school police force.

"After humbly serving my communities, departments and personnel over 35 years in law enforcement, I have been placed in a position that makes my ability to effectively, professionally and safely impact those groups unachievable,'' Chamberlain said in written a statement.
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Chamberlain added that he could not "support modifications to my position, the organization and most importantly, the community --students, staff and families -- that I believe will be detrimental and potentially life-threatening.''

It's unclear who will take over leadership of the department but a decision on the leadership transition is "forthcoming," a Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman told Eyewitness News.

L.A. school board approves cuts to school police following weeks of protests


Chamberlain, a 33-year law enforcement veteran, became chief of school police in December. He took the job after retiring as a commander with the Los Angeles Police Department.



His resignation comes after a split vote by the LAUSD Board of Education Tuesday to reduce the agency's budget by $25 million in response to weeks of protests calling for officials to "defund" the police.
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The board action also calls for officers to give up their uniforms and patrol off campus, and will lead to the layoffs of 65 officers in the 471-employee department.

The money will instead be used to fund staffing that specially serves the needs of Black students and a task force to study campus safety.

City News Service contributed to this report.
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