UC Davis Campus Cop Behind Pepper-Spraying Occupiers No Longer with University
- Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:30am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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The University of California, Davis confirmed Tuesday that Lt. John Pike is off the campus police force following a Nov. 2011 incident when he pepper sprayed a group of Occupy UC Davis protesters. (AP)
The University of California, Davis police officer captured on camera pepper spraying a group of Occupy protesters at point-blank range last fall no longer works for the university.
UC Davis spokesman Barry Shiller told the Sacramento Bee Lt. John Pike’s employment ended Tuesday.
“Consistent with privacy guidelines established in state law and university policy, I can confirm that John Pike’s employment with the university ended on July 31, 2012,” Shiller said.
Pike, 39, had been on paid leave since the incident last November, when he became known as the “pepper spray cop” after images spread around the world of him and another officer dousing a line of seated protesters who had refused orders to disperse.
Neither Shiller nor Pike commented to the Bee on the details of his departure.
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Comments (48)
ENIGMA28724
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 9:59pmThe protesters as just angry off because someone took command of the situation. They were ordered to move, given warning, and pepper-sprayed. The right to protest doesn’t include interfering with the rights of others. Those who condemn him I ask, have you ever tried to remove protesters who are locked arm in arm? I’m glad he had a party size canister of spray, although from the reaction of the rest of the crowd, some CS dispensers would have been useful.
Report Post »deerjerkydave
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:37pmClearly the police had orders to break it up. The entitled thugs resisted. Pepper spray is a non-lethal way to break up mobs. Clearly it was effective in this video.
Report Post »BaltimoreJoe
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:48pmHope to see him upholding the law in a community near me.
Report Post »65Mustang
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 6:08pmThe university policeman should have been honored for spraying the low-lifes for the shame they bring on themselves for their ignorance.
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 5:37pmI would have made him chief of the campus police!! And then suggested he order more pepper spray.
Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
RED-DAWN
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 4:35pmI think the “FEAR FACTOR” should be those of us who are no longer LEO’s. We know the rules and no longer have to be held back by the PC crap!
Report Post »Realman30
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 4:09pmLt. Pike saw his duty and he did it. Today, he still should be gainfully employed as a peace officer.
Report Post »Greyfoxms
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 4:00pmWhat that thug cop did is classic police brutality. The cop and his employer should be open to lawsuits. The big surprise to me is it took eight months of paid leave before they canned the freaking bully.
It is really disheartening that such a large percentage of the police in America seem to love causing pain and distress on helpless civilians, even shooting and killing needlessly.
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 4:29pmYour an idiot
Report Post »They were given a lawful order they decided to disobey that order costing everyone else the loss of their freedoms and liberties.
Actions have consequences they got less then they deserved he was made a scape goat.
Kalshion
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 4:38pmSorry Grey, but no that was NOT Police Brutality, seriously – you people need to stop abusing that word everytime you don’t agree with the LAWFUL actions of an officer.
The officer gave them an order, they refused – that gave the officer legal grounds to pepperspray them. You don’t like it? TOUGH. That’s the law and until it is changed, that‘s just how it’ll be.
That being said, the officer could’ve handled it in a better way, but this is what you get for being a bunch of thugs and blocking a public walk-way. (No, protesting does NOT give you the free-reign to block other people’s routes)
Report Post »ronin_6
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 3:59pmAs much as I love to see this (could watch it a dozen times a day), he could have handled it better.
Report Post »Black Manta
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 3:18pmIsn’t this an old video????????? Shame on Blaze, shame on blaze, shame on blaze….
Report Post »valleyfever
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 3:11pmThey should fire the whole nasty campus police force. Just think of the savings that would result. Students would then be free to live it up, love it up, and maybe study under the protection of these demonstrators. Parents should be comfortable with that.
Report Post »Constantine Ivanov
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 3:57pmBesides free love, students demanded free tuition, free lodging, free meals, free contraceptives… what else? High grades while no exams…Every freebie possible. Including drugs and alcohol, why not?
Report Post »They are young, huge needs, countless demands, no responsibilities…
Life is soooo beautiful…when paid by somebody else…
carl_in_ohio
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 3:02pmthis is a terrible time to be a policemen (or women). If you do your job, you are judged and subject to constant review.
This incident only reinforces that the students beliefs in their actions. It also tells the police to not take too active of an enforcement role. the result is slower responses and less interaction against crime.
No police officer is going to want to use pepper spray – and risk their job.
The campus police should have waited on the administration to act. If the Provost doesn’t give clear guidance – do nothing, risk nothing, withdraw and protect themselves. Not much of a police force.
But we get what we want.
Report Post »Constantine Ivanov
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:54pmIt means Radicals and Commies won again.
Report Post »avgconservative
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:45pmGot the word that he got a great severance package and is now a teacher for a nearby police training academy.
Wish we could have gotten him. We need more no-nonsense types of cops who follow orders.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:15pmSpray them some more I meant to say.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:44pmthey are lucky pepper spray is all they got.. i would have given them pure lead!
Report Post »Words_of_the_Buddah
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 4:15pmSo you would have murdered students for engaging in their right to a peaceful protest? How very Christian of you.
Report Post »ENIGMA28724
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:01pmTried that at Kent State during the Vietnam War. How’d that work out for all involved?
Report Post »Tom Ballard
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:40pmWe need to get Police that are blind, cripple and dumb. then let the mob kill ,maim,steal,destroy. every man for them self, then let the bleeding hearts do there own thing.
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:54pmWonderful statement. Although in this case the protestors were sitting down and not posing a threat to either property or other individuals. Property was listed first as it seems “my stuff” is more valuable than people for many folks here.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:06pmThey should have been sprayed for being stupid.
Report Post »JediKnight
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:14pmI’m pretty sure he was actually ordered to do it by the same people that then cried foul when he followed their orders. Pretty sure I read that somewhere when the original incident took place.
Report Post »spookchaser
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:53pmFirst thing Kalifornia has done that I agree with. Little over board on the boot-jacks part. Will say that “protesters” are usually a bunch of nut jobs. that need to go out and get a real job and and get off the dole or parents.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:30pmglad that thug is out of a job.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:08pmI am thinking you will someday see the need of a cop and will have a different perspective on what cops do.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:12pmYes, I just bet you do. Who do you think is going to keep them off your own azz one of these days?
Report Post »circleDwagons
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 3:35pmWho says he out of a job? He probably got a better job or if he did not he soon will. Stupidity hurts… don’t be stupid…. they where warned.
Report Post »Wolf73b
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:26pmI wonder if anyone at the University was ever informed that the protestors had pursued and surrounded police officers. I wonder if they understand how long the police restrained themselves before spraying those pukes.
Report Post »listeninginVT
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:36pmplease, try not to throw out facts and reasoning, it just ‘confuses’ people to the party line of ‘over reaction of the police’……
Report Post »oldduffer
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:52amAbout time those pukes from Davis got what is due them.
Report Post »Now let it happen at Berkeley and spread. Berkeley employees including professors should be taken out to the fields and learn how to work and while they’re away just take that campus and turn it into another Disney park. That‘s all it’s good for. It’s a joke to start with.
DetritusScreener
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:52amWhat a sham! The Officer did nothing wrong. That is exactly what pepper spray is supposed to be used for. It is to be used for compliance after officer presence and verbal commands don’t work and short of physical contact. I think some people need to get some training on what a cop is supposed to do.
Former LEO
Report Post »theprophetofpax
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:26pmR u f¤¤king insane? The only thing theese kids did to “resist” was to continue sitting there. U dont use a chemical weapon, which is what OC is, until it’s nessisary. This “cop” just didn’t want to get his hands dirty and act do his job. Which doesn’t include causing undo harm to ppl, btw.
Another former LEO
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:09pmSpray their sorry azzes good. They do not even know why they are there.
Report Post »normbal
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:49amThat guy deserves a medal. A gold-plated Bhut Jolokia.
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 12:03pmBhut Jolokia?
Where have you been that’s so several years ago…
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/1/hottest-chili
Trinidad Scorpion “Butch T”
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 11:41am15 Trillion in dept – Country being railroaded into Socialism – Government full of corrupt politicians – Unemployment actually around 20% – Inflation going through the roof – — those topics are not important.
Let’s talk about a cop spraying kids with Pepper Spray trying to (over) do his job instead
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 2:11pmLets talk about him shoud have sprayed them more than he did. He was doing his job. Had the students been in a class room or doing something constructive, they would not have been sprayed. pray them some more.
Report Post »Words_of_the_Buddah
Posted on August 1, 2012 at 4:31pmShould we be allowed to spray the Tea ****** protests? After all, they could be at work doing something productive, or at least keeping their crazy in front of the TV with Faux News on where they belong.
Report Post »