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Subscribe to RSSVideo of UC Davis campus police firing an orange stream of pepper spray at apparently peaceful protesters during an Occupy rally sparked nationwide outrage.
A UC Davis task force report released Wednesday strongly condemned a campus officer’s use of pepper spray during an Occupy protest at the university in November, saying that it “should and could have been prevented.”
The incident took place on Nov. 18, at the height of the Occupy movement that had spread to cities and campuses across the country. On that day, UC Davis campus police were ordered to take apart an encampment set up by protesters at the university.
Police officers told investigators that they felt trapped by protesters and used pepper spray to break out. In an now-iconic image from the Occupy movement, campus Police Lt. John Pike walked slowly past a line of crouched students, spraying them with a stream of neon-orange pepper spray.
Photographs and video of the incident went viral and triggered widespread condemnation of the campus police.
Video spreads of UC Davis cops pepper spraying Occupy students
The UC Davis report, which accompanies a 150-page assessment by Kroll, a risk management group based in San Diego, found that the officers’ claims that they were trapped was mostly unfounded.
“On balance, there is little basis supporting Lt. Pike’s belief that he was trapped by the protesters or that his officers were prevented from leaving the Quad,” the report said. “Further, there is little evidence that any protesters attempted to use violence against the police.”
The Kroll report added that UC Davis police are not authorized to use such powerful pepper spray, the MK-9.
“The MK-9 is a higher pressure type of pepper spray than what officers normally carry on their utility belts (MK-4),” the report said.
Nor was Pike trained in using that type of pepper spray, the report continued. It appeared he sprayed the protesters at closer range than six feet, as advised. (Pike refused to be interviewed for the report and remains on leave, as does the chief of UC Davis campus police.)
The task force, headed by retired state Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, was commissioned by University of California President Mark G. Yudof. Chancellor Linda Katehi, who heads UC Davis, had asked the president to put together the task force after she came under fire for the pepper spray incident.
The report criticizes Katehi, however, for being vague in her instructions to campus police before they went to take down the encampment.
“The only message communicated to the police was the ambiguous suggestion that the Chancellor and the Provost did not want the police operation ‘to be like Berkeley,’” the report said. At the UC Berkeley campus, police had beaten Occupy protesters with batons.
Video: Occupy movement takes violent turn at Berkeley
The Kroll and Reynoso reports were not released until Wednesday because the police union said that some parts would violate privacy rules, the Los Angeles Times reported. The newspaper reported that Pike has received death threats and that pranksters have orders pizzas to be delivered to his home.
In conclusion, the task force recommended that the University of California evaluate its police forces “to ensure that they reflect the distinct needs of a university community.”
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Leave a Comment:
Duh, really? But they were sitting there, singing in a menacing manner! Should they have been shot instead? Great spine there, UC "officials".
"... recommended that the University of California evaluate its police forces..."
And they laughed all the way to the bar.
Du, exactly. It took a non-moron to figure it out.
Another kiss-up report to the Police State.
Contrary to the journalism, there were no encampment at UC Davis protest. The protest toke place at the Quad, a large open space with a criss-crossing pattern of pedestrian sidewalks. The dozen or so students peacefully sat down on one of the criss-crossing sidewalk as a part of their protest. Contrary to subsequent police statements, no one or group of students trapped the police who were armed with automatic machine guns and wearing full armor riot gear. The dishonest and brutal police claimed the students were a threat to them, and yet, the entire group of police walked off the Quad undisturbed and un-impeded while the students booed and jeered.
The horrible truth is that today's cops have a perverted need to use deadly violence, excessive force and intimidation against civilians. Over the years, this perversion has gradually transformed yesteryears police into today's paramilitary force armed with heavy machine guns, grenades, helicopter gunships, armor vehicle, combat trained assault troops, and full body armor. A paramilitary force is not required to stop rape, vandalism, assault-and-battery, burglary, theft, or even armed robbery; its existence is to satisfy the sadistic and perverted minds of the Police State.
From the Rodney King beating to the Bart assassination of a teenager to the Katrina slaughter of flood victims to Seattle's Pike Street murder of a street vendor, the Police State with its paramilitary troopers has become the greatest threat to the life and safety of law abiding citizens who merely exercise their Constitutional guaranteed freedom.
And the Police labor union, rather than upholding the law, has sided with and protected their sadistic members because of the need for union dues.
This guy should be fired for falsifying the report if not arrested for assault. No wonder lots of people don't trust police.
Geeze, is this a newsflash? Cops lie? Wow, I never would have guessed.
@FatCatGets$700Bil
Good comment. Thumbs-up.
These so called 'cops' should have the same thing done to them....in a locked cell. I will bet not a damn thing happens to any of them.
Someone spent a lot of money to determine the obvious. How the police could have claimed self-defense against seated students who were protesting peacefully is mind-boggling. Did those guys look scared to you?
Last time I looked, people are allowed to protest in this country without fear of violent assault from law enforcement.
Campus police are to police what private investigators are to the FBI.
I love how they said there was no basis to his claim of feeling trapped... Oh really?! How did you break that complex riddle... Was it the picture of him standing there casually with no immediate press of people on him as he literally fire hoses the people with pepper spray. Was it that picture?! Or did your crack team of investigators bring in Scoob and the gang to figure it out!? Idiots. How is this guy not fired?! How is he still sitting around on paid administrative leave?
Cops protect cops. They'll do the same with a slap on the wrist.
The American Taliban stormtroopers attacked peacefully demonstrating citizens of the US and nothing will happen. Welcome to the right-wing, post-911, post-Patriot Act world we now live in.
As opposed to the pre-Patriot Act world, in which the students at Kent State found out what happens when you throw rocks at people who have guns.
Areyoubuyingthis wrote:
Well, to be accurate, a lot of police departments have the requirement that their officers do get pepper sprayed before they are allowed to carry it.
So that way the officer will know firsthand what it feels like to be sprayed. The hope was/is that they'll be a little more discriminate about using it.
But I highly doubt this officer was sprayed by MK-9...
Lt. Pike looked so arrogant, so smug, as he sprayed those kids. He, along with the overly paid UC Davis administrative blockheads, who don't know anything about crowd control, should be booted.
Motz, you said exactly what I feel every time I look at that picture of him casually leaning back with an "I've got this covered" attitude. Sickening. You might as well have pepper sprayed an 80 year old defenseless grandma. On wait! The cops did do that too.
I usually try to look at the other side of things as I firmly believe there are always two valid viewpoints to any situation, but I'm having a tough time with this one.
Even a pig like Pike is good for a laugh. http://imgfave.com/search/john%20pike
There are actually school districts in this country that have their own police forces. There was a time we didn't have armed cops on high school and junior high school campuses.
Pike is the last person in the world who should have a gun..........or pepper spray. I'd fire that miserable bastard in a heartbeat.
There should be an arrest,charges,coviction and lawsuit.Were any of the "protesters" black? If so I am sure Al Sharpton can beat the racism drums and get the DOJ to force California to bring charges.
should have sprayed them more.
floyd = troll
Time to review Kent State in 1970. Sit on your couch playing video games, or you going to stand up and be counted?
Battlelines being drawn, nobody's right if everyone is wrong, young people speaking their minds, getting so much resistance from behind, think it's time we stop, children , what's that sound, everybody look what's going down.
For what it's worth/Buffalo Springfield
Jesus ayfkm floyd? What kind of a hole makes a comment like that? If one of those kids was yours I bet you would still feel that way wouldn't you? You should be pepper sprayed for that comment like the kochroach you are. Oh and joe, crickets and banjo's is all I hear coming from you. FN whiner trolls go home to com-cast. Oh that's right they don't let you speak your mind on com-cast. Oh well your idiotic opinions are welcome here. We don't discriminate against stupidity. I won't bother to bore you with reality and facts, I know you righties are immune to that.
Wow, I'm not Sorry to say this getting fired is not enough. He should be charge with assault for what he did, with extra time for his lie about the reason he used the spray in fear of being trappedby the students what a crock Abuse of his authority
Agreed FatCatsGet$700Bil: We have become a paranoid society, armed to the teeth, and full of militarism. Our police forces reflect that, and in many ways, encourage this mentality.
Frankly, the cops scare the hell out of me. Not because they are "the law", but because they can bend or break it so easily and get away with it. I've seen too many incidents where cops injured or killed innocent people. Many cops are good, but the present culture creates too many bad ones.
Send Lt Pike some more pizzas. That's wonderful. Loaded with hot peppers.
@David Walker Chicago Public Schools has Chicago Police officers in their buildings. Many of the high schools also have walk-thru & hand held metal detectors. Poor kids can't even go to school without worrying about being stabbed or shot at. :\
There are no journalists at MSNBC, only commentators. Believe what you read at your own peril.
Not unlike the teachers' union. It's what unions do. Don't hate the playa, hate the game.
Lying sociopath pigs. Don't ask me to mourn your fellow pork when bad things happen to them. FTP (F the police).
That's what he's doing...talking not about the cops, but their sophistic union that covers them even if they murder people (which they do every year).
On this incident, there is enough blame to go around for everyone. The Chancelor and President for not giving specific instructions about how to break up the protest. The police chief and officers in charge for not properly training and instructing the office. And, of course, the officer for using more force than was necessary to break up the protest.
Pepper spray is a weapon. In many communities having or using it by someone other than LE is a criminal offense. The effect this "officer" had is like being told to go get rid of some rats and instead of using a BB gun, you decide to use an M-16. Those who are in charge are very much to blame for deploying the version of pepper spray used.
Campus police at state universities are very much POLICE. They are fully trained and equally as capable as any other state police force. Because of the unique nature of college campuses, they are required to be a great deal more flexible in dealling with the public. The incident here does not demonstrate the dedication and good work that most of them do every day. IMO, the officer involved and whoever was responsible for the decision on HOW to break up the demonstration do not deserve to continue to be on the force.
no, now the UCD admin would rather just wait til the protest is over and then arrest everyone after the fact. It's much quieter that way- Davis Dozen, anyone?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/19/1084671/-The-Buck-Stops-UCD-Police-Chief-Resigns-Over-Illegal-and-Insane-Pepper-Spray-Actions
The conclusion of this report for UC evaluate its police forces? I think an arrest is in order
The "conclusion" of this report is that cops are above the law and can get away with doing anything they want to peaceful American citizens. Another instance where cops hide behind the badge and sadistically abuse people. Sad state of affairs... this is America isn't it? Land of the Free (unless a cop decides to beat or pepper spray you for freely voicing political dissent).
If my kid had been sprayed and this was the report, I'd be talking to my lawyer. The University has deep pockets and only having to dig in them to pay damages will they truely take this seriously.
Every one of those kids should get to spray that dung beetle right in his arrogant face.
/watch?v=hhPdH3wE0_Y
Don't buy into all the crap. You guys buy into all the propaganda far too quickly. After you watch this video, may you impart some of your (more educated) opinions.
-Actual UC student
you don't think all the video was reviewed before making the decision?
SC2,
I saw the video you posted. It makes the police look even worse.
It is interesting that you seem to think that the people in riot gear, armed with batons, plastic handcuffs, and guns where afraid to walk past a bunch of sitting students.
That is laughable. At no point in the video did any student violently approached a cop or refused to move when shoved by one. They could have left at ANY TIME without making their disgusting point of pepper-spraying peaceful protesters.
It looks to me like a powerful statement against those that wish to silence us. Awesome protest. Let me show you another awsome protest. This is the UC Davis chancellor walking to her car after the pepper spray incident down a path lined by students silently staring at her. That silence spoke volumes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmfIuKelOt4
This confrontation was manufactured by the cops and whoever ordered them there. If they wouldn't have been there, everything would have been fine.
Sc2- turns out the police should have not been there in the first place
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/19/1084671/-The-Buck-Stops-UCD-Police-Chief-Resigns-Over-Illegal-and-Insane-Pepper-Spray-Actions
Fine now it's his turn for a heavy dose of industrial strength pepper spray. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
You'll find that many departments require their officers to get sprayed prior to being authorized to carry it....at least in my experience.....however their need to use it in this situation is not understood by me...I don't see the threat.......
No cops are subjected to a full can of spray while they sit there defenseless. I have seen them get sprayed they get a quick spritz and they cry their eyes out and whine for 15 minutes after ward. This guy was a brutal pile of excrement and needs to be thrown down a deep hole. Disgusting horrible human being.
so what...so they made a report...big deal...they won't arrest nor prosecute the rent-a-cops that attacked the protested that were CUFFED...nor will those that beat cuffed protested with batons be charged...
lame attempt to appear to give a flying sheet about LEO's abuses of power.
And the officers who conspired and then perpetrated this obviously excessive and unprovoked violence got:
A) A slap on the wrist?
B) A stern talking-to?
C) A hearty congratualtion on a job well done and a raise?
Guess "C" and win a cookie.
*sigh* Just watch this. /watch?v=hhPdH3wE0_Y
Honestly, it's a tad disheartening to see so many people manipulated by this blatant propaganda. Yes, what the police did was not entirely justifiable, but perhaps if you knew the whole truth (instead of what the media enjoys portraying) you wouldn't think the issue so black and white.
Yea those words they say really injured and endangered this group of cops in full riot gear armed to the teeth. Guess its okay to just blow someone away when they insult you? Or if you disagree with them? Cmon... You seem like an intelligent person do you really think this is the sort of behavior that justifies this kind of reaction? Because if you do you better watch what you say and you better never leave the house. I don't care if they are calling your mother a pig FN deli whore. You are supposed to be a professional and you had damn well better know not everyone loves you and as a representative of your community you need to exercise some restraint. I don't want to live in a world where this is okay for any reason. Period.
Dear SC2,
If the cops had not been there, there would have been no arrests, no pepper spray and no civil disobedience.
The cops have to prove that whatever they say goes, no matter how stupid it is, how wrong it is. They have to be right no matter what. It comes from eating to many doughnuts and drinking to much coffee.
Dear DonkeyHoty,
Don't they have the stand your ground law in CA? Those cops were just standing their ground.
If you don't get out of their way, they have the right to kill you. right?
The cops are there to protect us. From who, I'm not really sure in this case. We need protection from the cops.
Pike's being threatened by pizzas? With extra pepper-oni, right?
Trying to give him heart disease.
Send him some more pizzas. Also some calzones. With lots of cheeze. Send doughnuts on the side, covered with coconut shavings.
.
In a general sense, the Bay Area is home to some of the world's most belligerent protesters. Naturally police come into any demonstration there with more apprehension than, say, if it was Topeka, Kansas.
Uh-huh. Tell that to the police in Greece or the UK. I wish I could get the law behind me every time I claimed my job was too hard.
Oh but in Topeka they have ak47's on their side and are T party jartards so the pigs are there with them and their F'd up agenda. Yea I would like to see pepper spray come out of that fartknuckles pocket just to see him get shot and then watch all you GOP brains lose your FN minds trying to argue with yourselves about which a hole you support. Truth? That seems to be the word of the month with people who don't tell it or for that matter know the definition. Just because you agree with it makes it true? Yea right. Carry on with your bad self.
where usa human right? this video from usa? it is not from communist regime?
where human right watches??? those video was evident police violation student right and human right in usa,
police regime dictator alls uni, city of usa???
no more free opinion express in usa??? please watch the video that freedom usa?
Police officers told investigators that they felt trapped by protesters and used pepper spray to break out.
It's kinda amazing they can say that even knowing they were being videotaped lazily spraying people the way I water a garden. It's not that these cops are bad people, they are just poorly trained. I think every officer should be required to do one 3 month rotation overseas in a European or Asian city to learn what real riots look like and when force is required, and what it means to actually be afraid for your well being in the middle of it. They would take a very different attitude upon returning home, I think.
I think spraying unarmed, peaceful protesters with high powered pepper spray makes you a bad person.
If this situation was reversed and protesters used pepper spray on cops, what do you think would have happened to those protesters?
Justice is supposed to mean the same thing for everyone.
Some of them are definitely bad people. The Oakland Police Dept has been infamous for thuggery and murder for more than 70 years.
If that's true, there is an easy solution. Require psychological screening for everyone who wants to be an officer. The job probably does attract a higher than average number of people with issues that can be weeded out and labeled so they can't apply for any position of power in the future.
Hey, your from the U of C?? You graduated yet??
It is like any other militant organization. Some want to help and some just want to practice on live targets. I support the troops that want to make a positive difference and protect this great nation in a genuine act of heroism. Those who want to get in a fire fight and shoot innocent people because they have hate in their black hearts... No comment. Pretty clear what side of the boat officer douche bag was rowing on.
Dear ScubaSteve,
I'll tell you what would have happened. Those cops would have started shooting and beating anyone they could hit. They wouldn't stop until no one was moving - they'd all be on the ground dead or knocked out and beaten to a pulp.
Good thing it was the students who got pepper sprayed.
So many protesters, so little pepper spray to go around....
that video davis, california from usa not from russia, china? freedom of express usa today?
police win
RobertPlattBell...you should move to Syria. It would be more to your sensibilities.
Going for the Troll trophy RPB? You get my vote. Kochroaches like you should get a nice pepper gassing.
Are you sure he is not being sarcastic?
Pike should be fired.
Catapulted out to see off shark island!
Next time you dont want the police involved dont call them.
Pepper spray that jerk cop and see how he likes it. Cops have way too much power...
he has been sprayed
He's been spritzed... Big difference.
Ok, next time use a stun gun.
on the pigs.
Next time you dont want the police involved dont call them.
When will the "chancellor", the chief of campus police and the pigs shown on film committing battery going to be arrested?
The "office of the chancellor" should be the target of a massive example of un-civil dissobedience. I believe that the breaking of windows and destruction of property will be appropriate based on these findings.
There should be battery committed on all campus police at that university as an example of what happens when you are wrong and do not admit it.
Yes..it could have been prevented...if the "Occupy" sacks of sh!t would have got the f#ck up and left like they were told to do!
I guess you don't support the right of assembly and free speech. You probably would be screaming bloody murder if they pepper sprayed those Tea Party, gun toting, thugs. I've seen a lot of your posts, and they never come down on the side of law and reason unless it supports your ideology.
..and what's more, that video should have been shown to our servicemen fighting abroad - for "our freedom", so they can see how effective they're efforts are.. They would be outraged!
oh they are ...
[Orignal full version] 1 Marine vs. 30 Cops (By. J. handy)
War veterans marching in support of OWS
Iraq War Veteran supports Occupy Wall Street
Eric,
I wouldn't be at all surprised that you are also the type to wrap themselves in the flag and the constitution. That being the case you may want to give it a read sometime. They even made it easy for you - they put the important stuff in the first ten amendments.
who cares should of arrested all there asses watch the whole video so sick of your peaceful protests all you do is cause tax payers there money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Duh?
David is just another angry white man, you should ignore his indignation that we don't think like he does. It would be better if we all admired the rich and shut the @!$%# up otherwise, yes?
David.......You talk about wasting taxpayers money. I am looking at your writing. If you took English class at school in any grade, your writing shows you wasted our tax money. Please submit a refund to the state which you claim to be educated at.
David: People like you are why VIOLENT protests happen.
David,
I posted this before on a thread that was collapsed. Let me repost here for your benefit.
I wouldn't be at all surprised that you are also the type to wrap themselves in the flag and the constitution. That being the case you may want to give it a read sometime. They even made it easy for you - they put the important stuff in the first ten amendments.
Apparently David thinks there should still be British rule, slavery, women having no rights, and civil rights violations in America.
Do you know what's a waste of your tax dollars David ? The $700 billion in 2011, and over a trillion this year spent on our elected officials corporate sponsored global occuaption/domination.
UC Davis is not in the bay area....Davis is a very small college town.
Pike et al. should be charged with battery, fired, and the victims should sue him.
Each of the kids that got even a whiff of pepper spray should have the university pick up their tuition for the next four years.
This kind of crap won't stop until it hits someone in the pocketbook.
Has Pike even been fired? If not, what would it take? Would he have to kill someone to get fired? What a joke.
Who cares should of arrested all there protesting asses ill you do with that protesting is cause tax payers Money get a real job cause protesting dont count as one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1) There needs to be a subject before 'should.'
2) It's 'their' not ' there.'
3) There should be a period after 'asses.'
4) 'ill' should be capitalized, but there are other issues, see #5 below.
5) It's 'all' not 'ill."
6) 'Money' does not need to be capitalized.
7) 'Money' should be followed by a period since 'get' starts a new sentence.
8) On that note, 'get' needs to be capitalized (see #7 above for an explanation).
9) If 'cause' is used as a contraction for 'because' it needs a apostrophe.
10) On that note, 'dont' needs an apostrophe as well.
11) I'm not even going to comment on the exclamation points, or your lack of education.
What language are you writing in? Duh?
Let's not forget "should of" should be "should have"
Ahhh the language of Duh, understood by all.
@ Big Trouble, you said:
11) I'm not even going to comment on the exclamation points, or your lack of education.
I can only recount what "commentingbecauseican" said, " Let's not forget "should of" should be "should have". Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
David: Yeah, and the Boston Tea Party sure did cost the East India Company some bucks. And that damn MLK sure did cost the those cracker taxpayers in the South some dough. And let's not forget the strikers in 30's Detroit who gave you an 8-hour work day and labor laws...
Lazy bastards all of them huh? Have another six-pack and watch some more FOX News. Be careful not to drool on yourself.
I hope the cops beat you, then we'll see your sympathy, sociopath.
Sad truth:
Police State - 1 Peaceful Citizens - 0
peaceful citizens my A** , a bunch of trouble makers. Got what was coming to them, only thing left to to make them go find another college to disrupt. They should have been expelled for being part of it all
Hal: do you believe in the right to free speech and free assembly? No? Then please leave our country and move to say..Syria where you can enjoy like-minded company.
That's not fair, let hal speak so he can tell us that he wishes slavery were still legal. Damn abolitionists ruined it for everyone on that subject !
Spray used to "break out?" Given the direction of the spray hardly substantiates such a claim! This was a peaceful, non-violent demonstration - What prompted the campus police that day at UC Davis, to use such a high-volume density spray in the first place!!?
Given the hour of the events that were going on across America, and the impact of OWS movements, the bush-back by municipal and campus authorities were premeditated, with all such reactions bordering on the extreme measures approach!