The Los Angeles School police chief resigned from his post Wednesday, less than a year after he took the job and less than 24 hours after the district’s board cut $25 million from his department’s budget, Fox News Reports.
Police Chief Tod Chamberlain said the cuts put him in a “position that makes my ability to effectively, professionally and safely impact those groups unachievable.”
“I cannot 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,” he added.
Chamberlain was named L.A. School Police chief in November 2019. He was a 33-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department when he retired at the rank of commander and was working as a lecturer in criminal justice at Cal State Los Angeles.
Chamberlain’s resignation came after the Los Angeles Unified School Board on Tuesday voted 4-3 to reduce the LA School Police budget by 35%, and to divert those funds to hire more social workers, counselors and campus safety aids at schools with more Black students. One board member initially wanted to slash the police budget by 50 percent.
Chamberlain said during the meeting that the $25 million reduction means the Los Angeles Unified School Board will need to lay off 65 officers, close 39 vacant officer positions and eliminate the school police force’s entire overtime budget.
Last week, the union which represents LAUSD teachers voted in favor of completely eliminating LASPD.