Brown University Police Chief Placed on Administrative Leave After Campus Shooting

Brown University President Christina Paxson announced the placement of campus police chief Rodney Chatman on administrative leave in response to a tragic shooting incident on December 13, which resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to nine others. This action is part of an ongoing institutional review of security protocols, with Hugh T. Clements, the former chief of the Providence Police Department, stepping in as interim head to oversee campus safety operations during this period.

Public and internal scrutiny has intensified regarding the university's security infrastructure, particularly the lack of surveillance cameras in the academic building where the attack occurred and the relative ease of access to various campus facilities. Prior to this event, Chatman's tenure had already encountered challenges, evidenced by an October vote of no confidence from the union representing campus officers, which cited deficiencies in leadership, contractual adherence, and policies potentially compromising public safety.

The incident has prompted a formal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education into possible breaches of federal campus safety and security mandates. Officials have requested extensive documentation from Brown, encompassing annual security reports, internal audits, dispatch records, call logs, and instances of emergency alert activations to evaluate compliance and procedural effectiveness.

Also Read: Suspect in Brown University and MIT Shootings Found Dead by Suicide

The perpetrator, 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente—a one-time Brown graduate student from the early 2000s—executed the assault during a student study session before committing another fatal shooting of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro two days later. Law enforcement subsequently discovered Neves Valente deceased in a New Hampshire storage unit on December 16, with autopsy results confirming suicide as the cause of death.

Hundreds attended a memorial service in Birmingham, Alabama, for sophomore victim Ella Cook, celebrating her accomplishments in academics, piano performance, and leadership as vice president of the college Republicans, alongside her profound Christian faith. Tributes from faculty and clergy highlighted her vibrant personality, campus influence, and enduring spiritual legacy, with calls for continued remembrance of her altruistic love.

Also Read: Masked Suspect Seen Surveying Brown Campus Hours Before Deadly Shooting