Two UC Davis police officers are now on administrative leave following their use of pepper spray in Friday’s arrests of protesters, university officials said Sunday.
Videos taken during Friday’s arrests showed the two officers using pepper spray on students who were peacefully protesting.
“I spoke with students this weekend, and I feel their outrage,” said UC Davis Chancellor Linda P. B. Katehi. “I have also heard from an overwhelming number of students, faculty, staff and alumni from around the country. I am deeply saddened that this happened on our campus, and as chancellor, I take full responsibility for the incident. However, I pledge to take the actions needed to ensure that this does not happen again. I feel very sorry for the harm our students were subjected to and I vow to work tirelessly to make the campus a more welcoming and safe place," said Katehi.
The chancellor has sped up the process for a task force to investigate the events surrounding the arrests by working closely with administration and police. She has set a deadline of 30 days for the task force to issue its report.
The task force will include representatives of faculty, students, and staff which will be chosen this week.
In the meantime, Katehi will also plan meetings and forums with students, faculty and staff to listen to their concerns and hear ideas on how to bring back civil discourse to the campus.
“These past few days our campus has been confronted with serious questions which will challenge us for many months and years to come,” Katehi said.
A total of 10 protesters were arrested Friday. Eleven protesters were treated on site for the effects of the pepper spray, two of them were transported to a hospital where they were treated and released.
UPDATE: (11/21/11 6:15 a.m.) The Chief of Police for the U.C. Davis campus, Annette Spicuzza, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident.
