What Happened

Brown University has put its campus police chief on leave as the school and federal authorities investigate a deadly shooting that occurred earlier this month. The university announced this decision on December 22, 2025, as part of a broader response to the tragedy that left two students dead and nine others wounded.

Rodney Chatman, who served as Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management, was placed on administrative leave immediately. The university’s president, Christina H. Paxson, said the move is part of a series of safety and security steps the school is taking in the aftermath of the shooting.

Federal Review Under the Clery Act

At the same time Brown announced the internal leadership change, the U.S. Department of Education said it will review the university’s handling of campus safety. This review focuses on compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, a federal law that requires colleges receiving federal aid to meet specific safety and security standards.

The Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid will examine whether Brown may have violated those standards. The law mandates transparent reporting of crime statistics, timely warnings about dangers on campus, and adequate safety procedures.

Interim Leadership and Safety Measures

To lead the university’s public safety efforts while the review and internal assessments continue, Brown appointed Hugh T. Clements as the interim chief. Clements previously served as chief of the Providence Police Department.

President Paxson’s message emphasized immediate steps to enhance campus security. She highlighted plans for a rapid response team tasked with ensuring safety over the winter break and preparing for the spring semester. External experts will also be brought in to carry out an after-action review of the shooting and the university’s response.

Expanded Security and Safety Planning

Brown is taking additional measures that go beyond the leadership change. These include doubling security patrols, increasing surveillance camera coverage, and improving access control systems across campus. Blue light phones and panic alarms are also being installed in key areas, and access to classroom information online now requires secure university credentials.

The university announced that some buildings most closely linked to the incident, such as the Barus and Holley complex, will remain closed to students for the moment. Brown is also considering relocating certain classes to safer spaces.

Context of the Shooting and Aftermath

The shooting occurred on December 13, 2025, in the Barus and Holley building. The suspect, identified as former graduate student Claudio Neves Valente, later died by suicide. Investigators also linked him to the murder of an MIT professor in a separate incident in Massachusetts.

The deaths of two Brown students sparked shock and mourning on campus and beyond. Memorials and tributes highlighted their roles in the community and the devastation felt by family, friends, and classmates.

What Comes Next

Brown’s leadership has committed to an external, comprehensive review of its security systems and emergency response. That review will look at how the campus was protected before the shooting, how warnings were communicated, and what improvements are needed moving forward.

The federal investigation under the Clery Act could also carry consequences if authorities find the university failed to meet required standards. That process will run alongside Brown’s own assessments and newly announced safety measures.