A horrific tragedy struck Brown University, shaking the very foundation of campus safety and exposing glaring vulnerabilities under the watch of a progressive police chief.

On Dec. 13, a gunman unleashed chaos in the Barus and Holley engineering building at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, killing two students -- including a conservative campus leader -- and wounding nine others, and escaping without being caught on usable security footage. The incident has ignited fierce criticism of the university’s security protocols and its police chief, Rodney Chatman, as the Daily Mail reports.

For parents of Brown students, this isn’t just a headline -- it’s a nightmare with real-world consequences, including the potential financial burden of heightened security costs and legal liability if investigations reveal negligence. From a conservative standpoint, no one should escape accountability, and every stone must be turned to ensure such a failure never repeats. The public deserves answers, not excuses, especially when young lives are at stake.

Tragic Shooting Shocks Brown Campus

The nightmare began at 4:03 p.m. on Dec.13, when shots rang out during exam preparation, prompting Providence police to lock down the campus. Two undergraduates, Ella Cook, 19, from Alabama, and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, from Virginia, lost their lives. Nine others were wounded as the gunman fired into a crowded room before vanishing.

Security cameras, which Brown claims number in the hundreds, failed to capture usable footage of the suspect. How does a prestigious institution leave such blind spots in a building during finals week? It’s a question taxpayers and families footing tuition bills are asking with growing frustration.

The suspect, later identified as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, was linked to another murder -- that of MIT professor Nuno Loureiro on Dec. 15 in Brookline, Massachusetts. Valente’s body was found days later in a rented storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. Early missteps, like detaining and clearing an unrelated person of interest, may have slowed the manhunt.

Security Lapses Under Scrutiny

Critics have zeroed in on Brown’s security failures: unlocked doors, a propped-open entrance bypassing keycard access, and no uniformed guard during the largest class’s finals. Add to that the lack of effective camera coverage in an older building like Barus and Holley, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. This isn’t cutting-edge security; it’s negligence.

“This is security 101,” said Paul Mauro, a 26-year NYPD veteran. Well, if this is basic, Brown flunked the test spectacularly, leaving students exposed to a preventable tragedy. Conservatives argue that prioritizing progressive ideals over practical safety is a dangerous gamble.

After the shooting, Brown canceled classes and exams, beefed up security, and restricted building access while promising infrastructure upgrades. The governor ordered a statewide review of school safety, a move long overdue in the eyes of many. But why does it take a bloodbath to wake up administrators?

Police Chief Faces Intense Criticism

At the center of the storm is Rodney Chatman, Brown’s police chief and vice president for public safety, earning a hefty $250,000 annually. His progressive policing philosophy, including remarks against traditional law enforcement tactics, has raised eyebrows. Many wonder if ideology trumped readiness.

“Police need to showcase 'compassion and engagement with the community that alleviates the anxiety of our presence,'” Chatman has said. Compassion is noble, but when doors are unsecured and cameras don’t work, it feels like a hollow platitude. Safety must come before feelings, a core conservative belief.

Two police unions have issued no-confidence votes against Chatman and his deputy since August and October 2025, citing a toxic workplace, low morale, high turnover, and technology failures. They accuse his leadership of slashing beat cops while bloating administrative roles. If true, this prioritization reeks of bureaucratic bloat over boots on the ground.

History of Controversy Haunts Leadership

Chatman’s track record isn’t spotless -- past controversies include slow responses to a 2021 bomb threat and a 2023 shooting threat at Brown, though university leadership dismissed the criticism.

His tenure at the University of Utah in 2020 ended with administrative leave over misconduct allegations related to paperwork, later cleared, but a $2.5 million lawsuit was dismissed. The Brown Daily Herald also slammed his department for mishandling sexual harassment claims against a sergeant.

President Christina Paxson has defended Brown’s safety commitment, pinning blame solely on the shooter. Yet, with doors propped open and guards absent, that defense feels flimsy to those who value accountability over optics. Families deserve more than platitudes -- they need action.