Pike goes quietly
by David Atkins
Remember this guy?
Well, this is long overdue:
The UC Davis police officer who pepper-sprayed students during a campus protest last fall no longer works for the university, the Sacramento Bee reported Tuesday.
The employment of Lt. John Pike, who was captured on cellphone video in the act of spraying peaceful demonstrators, “ended on July 31, 2012,” UC Davis spokesman Barry Shiller said.
Shiller would not comment on the circumstances of Pike’s departure, citing privacy restrictions governing the release of such information. Pike declined to comment to the newspaper, saying he wanted to consult an attorney before speaking. Pike had been on paid administrative leave.
Of course, it’s not just about this one man. As the events in Anaheim and elsewhere amply demonstrate, there is a serious problem with the culture of many local police departments all across the country, and it needs to be addressed head on.
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