UC Davis Announces Reforms In Response To Pepper Spray Task Force Report
DAVIS (CBS13) - UC Davis announced on Wednesday a series of actions and reforms in response to a critical task force report on the police pepper-spraying incident last year that drew national attention.
The newly proposed steps as well as efforts already under way are aimed to "improve and enhance campus protest management policies and practices, police operations, and administrative coordination and communication," according to a press release from the university.
The action steps represent the university's preliminary response to input and recommendations from a task force appointed by UC President Mark Yudof to investigate the Nov. 18 pepper spraying of students on campus. The students were protesting tuition hikes peacefully on the quad but several sitting arm in arm refused to leave despite police warnings and were then doused with pepper spray.
"It was a terrible moment, and it was terrible for the world to see it," UC Davis spokesman Barry Shiller said. "You want police to be sort of obscure. You don't want a light shining on them."
"It changed the entire way UC Davis has been portrayed," student activist Dana Eneil said. "And so I think the administration is working on protecting that image now."
The task force, led by UC Davis law professor and former California Supreme Court Associate Justice Cruz Reynoso, was critical of the poor communication from Chancellor Linda Katehi in how to handle the situation and also described the campus police department as "dysfunctional."
Two steps that are already under way include a thorough review of campus police operations and policy and creation of a new Campus Community Council, the university said.
Police department operations are being reviewed by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). That review is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 1. Police Chief Annette Spicuzza was placed on administrative leave after the incident and announced her retirement last month. Lt. Matthew Carmichael was promoted to replace her.
The Campus Community Council is made up of student, academic, staff, emeriti, alumni, community and administrative representatives. It will "serve as a key venue for communication between leadership and campus constituencies on strategic issues facing the campus and the campus community," the university said.
Students CBS13 talked to on Wednesday said they hope what comes out of this is less of a police presence.
"I think police should be around, but I think their role needs to be drastically diminished," said Albert Aramayo, president of the Davis College Democrats.
"Hopefully we'll see the school standing with the students before attacking them," Eneil said.
