Harvard University Police Chief Victor Clay has resigned amid rising tensions within the department.
Clay announced his resignation in an email to department staff on Thursday afternoon, The Crimson reports. Earlier this month, the Harvard University Police Association (HUPA), the union that represents HUPD officers, sent out an anonymous survey in which 34 out of 35 officers voted no confidence in Clay.
The officers who voted no confidence said Clay has not “managed the Department in an open, ethical and fair manner” or “shown respect and appreciation” for the work of officers tasked with negotiating a new contract for the union, which expires in November. They also said Clay has not “fairly advocated” for improved working conditions within HUPD or “provided a consistent, stable and supportive environment for officers to maximize their ability to perform their jobs to the best of their ability.”
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Clay joined the department in July 2021 after former Chief Francis “Bud” Riley resigned when an investigation by The Crimson revealed decades of racist and sexist incidents in the department.
An external review released in Dec. 2020 after Riley’s departure recommended significant changes within the police department. Clay established new roles in senior leadership and vowed to improve HUPD’s handling of student mental health crises. He also planned to hire five unarmed campus police officers, which The Crimson reports did not happen during his tenure.
Clay wrote in his resignation email that he has always aimed “to keep the campus and its diverse community safe.”
“I believe that we have begun that journey and have made significant strides toward those goal, but I also knew that the change process would be difficult,” he said. “I believe it is in the best interest to give new leadership an opportunity to continue moving the department forward.”
Assistant Chief of Police Denis Downing will replaced Clay in the interim.
