Cop who pepper-sprayed students seeks workers comp

[TexasTowelie]

DAVIS, Calif. (AP) — The former police officer who pepper-sprayed students during an Occupy protest at the University of California, Davis is appealing for worker's compensation, claiming he suffered psychiatric injury from the 2011 confrontation.

John Pike has a settlement conference set for Aug. 13 in Sacramento, according to the state Department of Industrial Relations' website.

Pike was fired in July 2012, eight months after a task force investigation found that his action was unwarranted.

Online videos of him and another officer casually dousing demonstrators with pepper spray went viral, sparking outrage at UC Davis leaders. The images became a rallying symbol for the Occupy Wall Street movement.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Cop-who-pepper-sprayed-students-seeks-workers-comp-4687998.php?cmpid=hpts .

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Well, just off hand, I'd guess that the "psychiatric injury"

occurred long before Occupy.

But hey, I can see how the unfairness of getting fired just for dousing some richly-deserving lowlife protestors with toxic chemicals could weigh on a guy's mind.

[Demeter]

2. I concur with your diagnosis, Doctor.

This guy was damaged goods when he picked up the pepper spray, if not long before that.

[dtom67]

3. the real question here is...

What kind of training do these guys get? Who provides such training? Who provides the weapons?

The reason I ask this is because I think it is entirely possible that these people are indoctrinated to be desensitized to the rights and welfare of their fellow human beings who attend these protests. I certainly think that this is exactly how he was trained to respond to protesters, and that his "injury" comes from the realization that he would be held accountable for his actions. While his actions were disgraceful, I'd like to see an investigation of police tactics and training as a result , as well as punitive measures against the individual. There is a reason for aggressive police action against peaceful protesters, and it isn't just the fault of individual cops.


I also believe that some Police departments intentionally discriminate against applicants of higher I.Q's. ( Don't know where I heard this, but it was recent). You can see that , in cases of dealing with Public protests, that an anti-protest agenda is best served by officers that do not do a lot of critical thinking.

If it were the case that this fellow was hand picked for lack of intellect and trained to be an unfeeling thug, I think you could make the case that he is a victim , too.

Nah. screw 'em.

I think that everyone should be filmed at a protest: protesters, cops, and Media. And then their friends and families should have to watch the film.

Then see who is proud and who is ashamed.

Any bets?