The Brown University Security Patrolperson’s Association issued a vote of no confidence in Brown University Police Chief Rodney Chatman and Deputy Chief John Vinson, the union announced in a Wednesday press release. This follows an Aug. 27 unanimous vote of no confidence by the Brown University Police Sergeants Union announced last month, The Herald previously reported.
The vote, finalized Oct. 17, “reflects deep concern among the membership regarding the direction and leadership of the Department of Public Safety,” the statement reads.
According to the statement, the current DPS administration has prioritized establishing new administrative positions while decreasing the number of officers assigned to field operations. This change, the union says, has “directly contributed to an all-time low in morale and has strained the department’s ability to effectively serve the Brown University community.”
The statement also cites a “climate of fear and possibility of retaliation” in the department, while also noting that many officers have technology failures in the field. Largely left unresolved, these challenges “have led to high turnover and burnout among officers,” the release reads.
University Spokesperson Brian Clark wrote in an email to The Herald that the “DPS works on a continual basis to provide staff the training and resources required to protect safety on campus, including when there are threats to members of our community.”
“Brown DPS is deeply committed to protecting the safety of students, faculty, staff and campus visitors,” Clark added. “That commitment extends to each of the officers, staff members and leaders who carry out the department’s mission every day.”
The union claims that while the University administration has been notified of the “deteriorating work climate,” it has failed to adequately address officers’ concerns.
University administrators have “robust and open lines of communication with union leaders at Brown and routinely work to address issues, priorities and concerns,” Clark wrote. “We encourage staff to report any concerns, and we take all reports seriously.”
The Brown University Security Patrolperson’s Association represents 39 campus police officers, security officers and building guards, according to John Rossi, a national representative for the union. The Brown University Police Sergeants Union, which issued the first vote of no confidence, represents 10 sergeants within the DPS’s team of more than 90 staff members, University Spokesperson Brian Clark told The Herald last month.
In the last year, officers of the DPS have alleged instances of harassment based on their gender and sexual orientation, The Herald previously reported. Officers alleged that DPS employees responded with inadequate safety protocols to bomb and shooting threats, raising safety concerns about themselves and the Brown community.
Chatman and Vinson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
Sophia Wotman is a University news editor covering activism and affinity & identity. She is a senior from Long Island, New York concentrating in political science with a focus on women’s rights. She is a jazz trumpet player, and often performs on campus and around Providence.
