Reynoso: Pepper-spray report out by early February
The task force investigating the Nov. 18 pepper-spraying and arrest of Occupy UC Davis protesters will finish its work by early February, University of California officials confirmed this week, a month later than requested by UCD Chancellor Linda Katehi.
Led by former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, the 13 students, faculty, alumni and staff members will report to UC President Mark Yudof about its recommendations for changes on campus.
They will make use of a fact-finding report by former Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton, now chairman of Kroll Investigations.
Bratton’s report, due no later than this week, will not be released to the public until the task force recommendations are released, said Lynn Tierney, UC’s associate vice president of communication.
Reynoso suggested in a letter to Yudof dated Dec. 21 that the task force’s final meeting would be public “for the purpose of presenting, discussing and taking questions” on its recommendations.
“I remain confident that we can meet your goals for the task force, both in providing you with an objective account of what happened at UC Davis on November 18 as well as in recommending changes that can help ensure that the rights and safety of nonviolent protesters and the entire campus community are protected,” Reynoso said in the letter, which was provided to the media this week.
Reynoso also sought to clarify the roll of Kroll Investigations. The firm’s involvement has drawn criticism because of its previous work for UC, which officials have said included background checks and security officials for visiting dignitaries and threatened researchers.
“The Kroll inquiry is not a process independent of the task force, but rather is an instrument of the task force,” Reynoso writes. “Its findings in regard to policies, procedures and use of force will be incorporated into the final task force report.”
The day after the incident on the Quad, Katehi called for a task force to release recommendations in 90 days. Facing a loud public outcry over a viral video of the pepper-spraying, she quickly changed her request to Yudof to 30 days, or Dec. 21.
It didn’t take long for that date to be pushed back.
“I don’t want to change the timing, but I also wouldn’t want them to rush their conclusions,” Tierney told The Enterprise in late November, adding, “You want it to stay within the chancellor’s wishes, but you also want it to be thorough and considered.”
The task force is leading one of several investigations into what happened.
Among the others: The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office will consider possible criminal charges against the officers, while UCD also has hired investigators to help it decide what actions, if any, should be taken against its employees. And state lawmakers, already having held one hearing, have said they intend to hold another.
UCD police Chief Annette Spicuzza, Lt. John Pike and one other officer remain on administrative leave after about 35 campus officers were tasked with removing the tents of a mostly student group of about 75 protesting, among other things, record tuition increases, police use of force and the movement of UC toward private financial support.
With a crowd of dozens of onlookers enveloping both protesters and police alike, protesters sat down and linked arms in the path of helmeted officers removing others they had arrested. After the seated protesters refused to move, they were doused with pepper spray at close range by Pike and the second officer.
Afterward, about a dozen protesters were treated by paramedics or at Sutter Davis Hospital. Nine students and one alumnus were arrested.
UCD asked that charges not be filed against the protesters and has promised to pay for any medical expenses resulting from injuries suffered that day.
While protesters took down another Occupy encampment at the start of the winter break, they’ve vowed more action when classes resume Monday. The Davis division of the UC Faculty Senate also is set to take up a vote of no confidence in the chancellor.
— Reach Cory Golden at cgolden@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8046. Follow him on Twitter at @cory_golden
Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=123293
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Posted by Cory Golden
on Jan 5 2012.
Last Login: Mon 21 May 2012 03:57:15 PM PDT
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I hope the report is an honest and factual one. This was such an unfortunate event, one that never should have happened. Hopefully, we’ve learned something from this.