UC Davis pepper sprays seated protestors

[Panacea]

You'd think with all the controversy about what happened in Oakland, the UC Davis cops would exercise a little more common sense. http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/20/us/cal...html?hpt=hp_t1

Looks like another university president might lose his job.

[Gravekeeper]

Yeah, saw that this morning. The president in question refused to step down and is shuffling all the blame off on the cops it seems. Seriously though, what the heck is going on down there with the cops? It's getting uncomfortably police stateish. These aren't photos and videos that should be coming out of America. -.-

[bara]

You know, this is appaling. Cattle prods would have gotten those people to move much faster and it would have been less likely to cause occular damage.

[Panacea]

Because burns are so much better . . . . (you were kidding, right?)

[bara]

Yes, I was kidding. Frankly Im reminded of the youtube video of the cop in dayton ohio spraying a poor girl at Wendys cause he thought she stole money from him. She didnt of course, he just forgot how much money he handed to her.

Its appaling what they are doing to some of these people.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Maybe I'm being dense, but why should the chancellor step down because of the actions of the police?

What am I missing? I read the article a couple times and I am clearly missing some important bit of it.

[linguist]

Maybe I'm being dense, but why should the chancellor step down because of the actions of the police?

What am I missing? I read the article a couple times and I am clearly missing some important bit of it.

this was a university police force, who's policies and procedures are overseen by the chancellor.

[bara]

From the article:

"Earlier, UC Davis spokeswoman Claudia Morain said police used pepper spray after protesters encircled them and blocked them from leaving. Cut off from backup, the officers determined the situation was not safe and asked people several times to make room, Morain said."

If you watch the longer version of the video this entire statement is debunked.

"Katehi said that investigation, initially announced Saturday, would be sped up. Katehi said the task force established to conduct the probe will now report in 30 days, instead of 90."

Seems pretty clear cut to me. Ive got this figured out in one. Why the police did what they did I can only speculate. It wasnt for the reason stated. I say the people doing the spraying be charged with assault and thrown in jail. Sure, they can have thier day in court. But I don think this is going to take 30 days.

Even after the spraying the crowd did not get violent. And they were given reason to become violent. Self defense is a reason.

[Rageaholic]

Not to justify what the cops did, but were the protestors blocking something? It looked like they were blocking the path.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

this was a university police force, who's policies and procedures are overseen by the chancellor.

I see, okay. Thanks for clarifying that.

[Andara Bledin]

Not to justify what the cops did, but were the protestors blocking something? It looked like they were blocking the path.

Yes. They were blocking the path. Which makes them subject to arrest and fines, not eligible for pepperspraying.

That's been the problem with the vast majority of clashes between the police and protesters; the police have reacted in ways that are completely out of line and uncalled for by their own procedures. It might only be a portion of the police acting like this, but it's tarnishing the reputation of every force in which it happens and is not met with an immediate response regarding it's lack of acceptability.

^-.-^

[Shangri-laschild]

I can't figure out how the cops could even have hoped to justify this...

this was a university police force, who's policies and procedures are overseen by the chancellor.

I'm still confused on this one. It seems like there is something that the article isn't saying to some extent. Unless what the officers did was following policy, I'm a bit confused as to why the Chancellor is being held accountable for that. On the other hand it seems like quite a few employees are calling for resignation too so I'm wondering what else is going on with this Chancellor. I'm not saying she is or isn't responsible, just that I'm confused and fuzzy on the specifics of why she is.

That's been the problem with the vast majority of clashes between the police and protesters; the police have reacted in ways that are completely out of line and uncalled for by their own procedures. It might only be a portion of the police acting like this, but it's tarnishing the reputation of every force in which it happens and is not met with an immediate response regarding it's lack of acceptability.

Curious if you meant a more immediate response like stopping the officer when he started pepper spraying people or as in immediate firing?

While I definitely can't see any defense for them not being fired, I can understand why firing them on the spot could be tricky. If they are union, which I believe they are, then messing up on how they are fired could lead to a wrongful termination grievance which would mean they had to be rehired. Doesn't mean you can't fire them, just means you have to do it by the book to make it stick. Hopefully they do go ahead and fire them though.

[Rapscallion]

Not to justify what the cops did, but were the protestors blocking something? It looked like they were blocking the path.

If they were, is that a reason for corporal punishment?

University police force? What are their legal limits? Where do they come in the scheme of things - between police and vigilantes?

Rapscallion

[AdminAssistant]

As far as I know, University police have the same powers of arrest as any other police force. (YMMV, every university is different.) Here they do usually call in city police for backup on any significant incident.

[Akasa]

Here maybe this will help:
http://boingboing.net/2011/11/20/ucdeyetwitness.html