‘OUR CAMPUS WAS TESTED 10 YEARS AGO’
Students were pepper-sprayed during a peaceful protest
Ten years ago, on Nov. 18, UC Davis police officers peppersprayed at least 10 students during a non-violent demonstration in the campus quad.
The students were protesting as a part of the Occupy UCD protests, a nationwide movement that sought to highlight social and economic inequalities in the country.
Following the incident, a UCD task force released a report that concluded the pepper-spraying “should and could have been prevented.”
On Thursday, UCD Chancellor Gary May, who was not the chancellor at the time of the incident, released a statement that detailed how UC Davis has attempted to grow and the changes the school has implemented.
“Today, we acknowledge that this regrettable and unnecessary incident is part of our history, no matter how painful,” May said in his statement. “It served as the catalyst to improve the environment for our students, faculty and staff with a focus on safety, well-being and belonging.”
In the ten years since the incident, UC Davis has attempted to implement a number of measures to reform campus policing, safety and better address students’ needs. Officers, for example, no longer respond to protests on campus.
A campus police accountability board was established to focus on accountability, safety and communication between the campus community and police. The board also reviews complaints filed against police officers. UC Davis police also reconfigured staffing and reallocated funding, eliminating three vacant uniformed officer positions to allow for funds to be placed toward positions to support reform.
In September, a transparency dashboard that is divided into three parts was launched on the
police department’s website. The sections include public safety, accountability and department operations.
“The measures we’ve implemented since then have fostered progressive and engaged leadership at all levels of campus policing,” May said.
In 2018, May announced the creation of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, along with task forces on affordable student housing, food security and mental health.
A Campus Oversight Safety Committee was also established to improve communication and transparency.
Lt. John Pike, who was named in the initial report completed by the UCD task force, was fired following the incident.
“Our campus was tested 10 years ago,” May stated. “Like any test, it revealed our collective character — one that ultimately exhibited a capacity to unite to figure out how to be and do better. The improvements we’ve made did not happen overnight, nor were they easy or without disagreement, but we persevered. Our perseverance has paid dividends, as our practices have become a national model for reform and response.”