Cal is paying for the medical bills of the students who were peppered sprayed, dismissing the misdemeanor charges against the protestors who were arrested and has placed two officers and the chief of police on administrative leave.
University to pay pepper spray medical bills - Local News - Detroit, MI - msnbc.com
Another take on the issue:
Quote:
"Charles J. Kelly, a former Baltimore Police Department lieutenant who wrote the department's use of force guidelines, said pepper spray is a "compliance tool" that can be used on subjects who do not resist, and is preferable to simply lifting protesters.
"When you start picking up human bodies, you risk hurting them," Kelly said. "Bodies don't have handles on them."
After reviewing the video, Kelly said he observed at least two cases of "active resistance" from protesters. In one instance, a woman pulls her arm back from an officer. In the second instance, a protester curls into a ball. Each of those actions could have warranted more force, including baton strikes and pressure-point techniques.
"What I'm looking at is fairly standard police procedure," Kelly said.
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UC Davis Pepper Spray Video At Occupy Protest Launches Probe By University (VIDEO)
On the other hand:
Quote:
Los Angeles attorney Okorie Okorocha called the pepper spraying unreasoned and excessive.
"Tear gas you spray in the area you want people to move away from," Okorocha told ABC News. "Pepper spray is to keep the people from being able to mount an attack. Here the police officer is trying to disperse a crowd. Why would you incapacitate them?"
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Occupy UC Davis Pepper Spraying: Cops Suspended - ABC News ... [FYI: Per his website, Mr. Okorocha is a high profile criminal defense lawyer in California who's website says his nickname is "Dr. DUI" (sorry, I just got a laugh out of that)
Newport Beach DUI Lawyers DUI Attorneys in Newport Beach DUI Defense in Orange County]
Finally, from the UC Davis Police Guidelines on use of Force, specifically, use of chemical agents:
Quote:
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812. Only authorized personnel may possess and maintain department issued oleoresin capsicum spray. Chemical agents are weapons used to minimize the potential for injury to officers, offenders, or other persons. They should be used only in situations where such force reasonably appears justified and necessary.
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http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/coordre..._adminproc.pdf