UC Davis Campus Cop Behind Pepper-Spraying Occupiers No Longer with University

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.