Brown University Police Chief Placed on Leave Amid Scrutiny Over Deadly Shooting

Brown University's Chief of Police, Rodney Chatman, has been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately, following a deadly shooting on campus that left two students dead and several injured. The move comes over a week after the shooting, which has sparked widespread criticism of the university's safety protocols. The university has arranged for an external review of the incident, led by a committee of the Corporation of Brown University. Former Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements will serve as interim chief of police, with a direct reporting line to the university president. Chatman has faced scrutiny over his leadership of the university's public safety department, which has been accused of a "climate of fear" and low morale. He was previously police chief at the University of Utah, where he was accused of wearing a badge and carrying a gun before being officially designated a police officer. The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into the university's handling of the shooting, citing potential violations of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act. The agency is reviewing whether the university met its safety and security requirements under federal law. The investigation follows reports that the university's campus surveillance and security system may not have been up to standards, allowing the shooter to flee, and that emergency notifications about the active shooter were delayed. The university has committed to transparency and accountability in the wake of the shooting, with officials promising to share additional information as the review process unfolds.