Officers who pepper-sprayed campus protesters are put on leave

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Two campus police officers who pepper -prayed protesters Friday on the University of California, Davis, campus were put on administrative leave pending an investigation, campus officials said Sunday.

A video posted on the Internet Friday shows officers spraying a row of seated protesters who reportedly had refused police orders to disband during an Occupy UC Davis rally. The video elicited outrage, including calls for the resignation of the Davis chancellor, Linda P.B. Katehi.

"I spoke with students this weekend, and I feel their outrage," Katehi said in a written statement issued Sunday. "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."

Katehi said a task force would be appointed this week, to be made up of faculty, students and staff, to look into the incident. She said the group's work will include looking into "communications from the police to the administration." Katehi set a 30-day deadline for the group's report.

A campus spokesman said Katehi also has tentatively agreed to meet Monday with members of the protest group. In a press statement Sunday, campus officials said Katehi plans a series of meetings with students, faculty and staff about the incident to listen to ideas.

The pepper-spray incident on Friday came after campus police moved in to order a tent encampment on the Quad be disbanded. Ten protesters were cited and released on misdemeanor charges of unlawful assembly and failure to disperse. An estimated 25 tents were taken down. Campus officials said 11 protesters were treated on campus for effects of pepper spray. Two were taken to a hospital but were released after treatment.

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(c)2011 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.)