University Police Chief Karl Ross was officially sworn into duty
Monday after serving almost 30 years at UCLA and the last
one-and-a-half years as acting chief.
Ross replaced former Chief Clarence Chapman, who had served as
chief for over 10 years at UCLA.
“I can think of no better person to lead the
department,” said Sam Morabito, vice chancellor of business
and administrative services.
Chancellor Albert Carnesale, Administrative Vice Chancellor
Peter Blackman and Morabito formally appointed Ross to his new post
in January, a decision Morabito said was one of the easiest he had
to make.
Because Carnesale was out of town, Morabito read a letter the
chancellor wrote to the new chief.
“In almost 30 years of service to the department ““
most recently as acting chief ““ you have demonstrated your
dedication, commitment to excellence, and exemplary
leadership,” Carnesale wrote.
“It takes a special kind of person to police a large
university campus, which is really a city within itself. In
addition to competence in law enforcement and public safety, a
campus officer must have the ability to relate to a population of
students, staff and faculty. … You do indeed embody all of those
qualities,” the letter read.
Ross, who had been assistant chief for more than eight years,
became the acting chief in August 2003 after Chapman went on
medical leave.
Ross lives in Santa Clarita and is married with four children.
He graduated with a degree in management from Pepperdine University
and also graduated from the FBI Command College and the FBI
National Academy.
In February, Ross said he was committed to furthering the UC
police department’s practices of community-oriented policing,
a method of building partnerships and relationships with all
members of the university to keep the area safe.
Monday’s ceremony began with the new chief’s
traditional inspection of his officers. Ross walked in front of
each of his officers ““ who were standing in three perfectly
straight lines, stiff in their dark-blue police uniforms ““
and looked them over one by one.
Officers from UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara were on campus so
UCLA’s officers could take part in the inspection.
Ross reminded his officers that his new role would not have been
possible without them.
“I’m here because of the work you do,” Ross
said. “Twenty-four, seven.”