Police Should Condemn, Not Defend, Excessive Use of Force at UC Davis

[Fire Walk With Me]

E.D. Kain, Contributor
11/19/2011 @ 3:45PM

Police at UC Davis maced a group of peaceful Occupy protesters in a gross display of excessive force Friday. The video, which I posted earlier today, has since gone viral. Police are not backing down from the action despite the police actions being widely criticized.

“If you look at the video you are going to see that there were 200 people in that quad,” said Chief Spicuzza. “Hindsight is 20-20 and based on the situation we were sitting in, ultimately that was the decision that was made.”

Police are reviewing video of the event. Unless the public outrage over the matter is sustained, expect them to try to sweep it under the rug.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2011/11/19/police-should-criticize-not-defend-excessive-use-of-force-at-uc-davis/

[Fumesucker]

1. The Chancellor has initiated a 90 dagy investigation..

I'm sure at the end it will be determined that mistakes were made.

[Dover]

2. Not an excuse, but this also goes back to the basics of their training program.

That's certainly a piece that needs reform. And self perception - they don't see themselves as 'peace' officers.
They likely have had very little if any training in nonviolent conflict resolution. They are 'created' to apply force and may not know how to
deal with nonviolent groups or individuals.

I think it's also incumbent upon the public to remind them of their public servant status and let them know what our expectations are.
I'm just sensing confusion on many levels.

[Pachamama]

3. Havent the Chancellors of these Universities & pollice chiefs ever hear of "community policing"?

It is just astounding to me with the lessons of the past that every University & College Campus police isnt properly trained in the concepts of Community Policing ( see the COPS Program from DOJ - http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?item=36 ). Its very basic principles and the first of course is building trust and knowing how to problem solve. This coupled with training on negotiations and also proper crowd control tactics. Maybe mixed in with a couple of civics classes.

The Chancellors at both UC Berkeley and UC Davis and their police forces clearly dont understand those basic principles and concept. The students are their community. The campus is their home & their commons. They are there to learn and the University is their to assist them & to protect them & serve THEM! The violence of batons being used brutally on unarmed students at Berkeley and Pepper spray on non-violent members of that community in the community is not community oriented. It breaks all trust and there can be no cooperation or negotiation in those circumstances. Had any of these so-called managers/leadrs even understood this for a moment, such actions not only would never have been authorized, they would have been avoided completely. These chancellors think that they can make this all okay after an investigation. These officers will never be able to have the truat of the student community again. They need a top down house clewning and frankly, it should start with the clueless chancellors, neither of whom were there (including one out of the country!) down to the Campus police chief & the officers. There is no excuse, none for what happened. They work for their community. Their paychecks come from those students and alumni that represent the communitybthey are hired to serve. They failed. The image of a Berkeley police officer with riot gear & baton jabbing at a 5ft unarmed girl with no way of moving right or left or backwards is forever burned in my mind when I think of the Berkeley chancellor & campus police. The image of Lt John Pike of UC Davis campus police pacing back & forth like a Gestapo officer in front of unarmed sitting students with their heads bowed in non-violent protest as he looks down on them & presents a Pepper Spray Canister like a Sommelier wirh a fine wine before he "serves" them and sprays their faces in a sweeping motion will forever be burned in my mind when I think of UC Davis chancellor & campus police.

Shame on them all & there needs to be consequences for their failures.....

[JoeyT]

4. They should poop unleaded and cure our energy woes too.

While we're making a wish list, it's about as likely to happen.

Aside from a few rogue good cops who will probably be drummed out in short order denouncing the violence, it's going to be the usual nonsense, both from the police and their bootlicks.

[reggie the dog]

5. system of a down says it best

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYJtkwlRlj8