John Thomas, a 38-year law enforcement veteran and UCLA alumnus, is UCLA’s new interim chief of police. Thomas assumed the role in December, following the scheduled retirement of Chief Tony Lee.
“I am excited to welcome John back to UCLA in his new role,” said Michael Beck, UCLA’s administrative vice chancellor, to whom the chief reports. “I am confident that his experience and expertise will greatly benefit our campus and our Bruin community and that he will be an excellent steward of our public safety enterprise.”
Thomas comes to UCLA from the University of Southern California, where he served most recently as special advisor to the senior vice president for administration. Before that, he served as the USC Department of Public Safety’s executive director and chief of police from 2013 to 2022, assistant chief from 2009 to 2013, and a police captain from 2006 to 2009.
Thomas also served as the University of the District of Columbia deputy chief of police and emergency management from 2005 to 2006 and in various roles in the Los Angeles Police Department, where he rose to lieutenant.
Thomas is well known for his collaborative and community-oriented approach to public safety and his strong commitment to the mentorship of law enforcement and civic leaders. He is a member of the board of directors for many professional organizations, including the Los Angeles Police Museum, FBI National Academy Associates, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and Pac-12 Chiefs Association.
Thomas is also a scholar of LAPD’s Black history, who has played an instrumental role in highlighting the stories of some of the city’s first Black officers and getting recognition for LAPD’s first Black officer killed in the line of duty, 75 years after the officer's death.
Attending UCLA from 1980 to 1984 as an undergraduate, Thomas was editor-in-chief of the Black student publication NOMMO and worked at the ASUCLA Bookstore. In his senior year, he suspended his education to join the LAPD. The rigorous demands of working various specialized assignments made it too difficult for Thomas to finish his degree in a traditional manner. Rather than abandon his education, Thomas enrolled in a weekend program at Mount St. Mary’s University and completed a liberal arts degree. He also holds a master’s degree in executive leadership from USC.
