Embattled UC Davis Police Chief Announces Retirement

DAVIS (CBS13) - The UC Davis police chief, who has been on administrative leave since the infamous pepper-spraying incident on the campus quad in November, announced her retirement on Wednesday, several news agencies have reported.

"We've said it all along as a campus that we view it as a terrible moment," said UC Davis spokesperson Barry Shiller.

Annette Spicuzza was highly criticized in a task force report released last week for her role in the Nov. 18 police pepper-spraying of students who were protesting tuition hikes in the UC system. The students locked arms on the quad and refused to leave despite police warnings, after which the students were doused with pepper spray.

CBS13's Laura Cole interviewed her after the incident.

"Was that use of force really necessary to get out of there?" said Cole.

"Yes, if you look at the video you are going to see that there were 200 people in that quad and they had already encircled those officers," replied Spicuzza.

The Sacramento Bee first reported the news of Spicuzza's resignation after the newspaper received an email from her Wednesday announcing the decision to step away after 27 years in law enforcement. The university confirmed the announcement, saying Spicuzza's resignation is effective Thursday at 5 p.m.

"As the university does not want this incident to be its defining moment, nor do I wish for it to be mine. I believe in order to start the healing process; this chapter of my life must be closed," Spicuzza said in her statement.

The task force reported, chaired by former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, was critical of Spicuzza, saying she lacked control over her officers and terming the department as "very dysfunctional."

"There's a lot of hatred here for the entire police department. I don't blame her," said student Danielle Brown.

Reynoso told CBS13 he was told Tuesday by Chancellor Linda Katehi that the school needed to find a replacement.

Lt. John Pike and a third unnamed officer were also placed on leave for their actions that day. Pike and the other officer discharged the pepper spray.

It's possible Spicuzza felt she just could not recover from the incident. The university on the other hand is determined to.

"One that we're committed to recovering from and moving forward and that's what we're going to do," said Shiller.