The UC Davis police chief who oversaw the reprehensible pepper spraying of campus protesters has announced her resignation, effective today, university officials confirmed. A report released earlier this month found the department to be 'very dysfunctional', and in need of an overhaul.
The chief, Annette Spicuzza, announced that she was leaving so everyone involved 'could move forward'.
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San Francisco Chronicle: UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza to resign
Spicuzza, who had 20 years of police experience before coming to UC Davis, was suspended with pay shortly after the Nov. 18 demonstration.
UC Davis police officers coated protesters with pepper spray as the group of about 20 sat huddled in a line. The students, protesting rising tuition, were surrounded by other students who screamed in shock as the spraying began and chanted: "The whole world is watching!"
Two protesters were taken to the hospital. They were among 11 protesters treated for the effects of pepper spray. Video of the incident went viral and made international news.
Spicuzza and two other officers were suspended with pay.
Last week, a 12-member task force led by former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso issued a 190-page report finding that the incident "should and could have been prevented." It strongly criticized campus and police handling of the incident.
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