Officer who pepper-sprayed students at peaceful protest awarded $38,000
In 2011, students at University of California-Davis who were peacefully protesting were attacked with pepper spray by a campus police officer.
Now, John Pike will receive more than $38,000 in workers compensation after being diagnosed as having a disability.
Pike, 40, of Roseville, reportedly suffered depression and anxiety brought on by death threats he and his family received after the Nov. 18, 2011, confrontation at an Occupy UC Davis encampment. Bernie Goldsmith, a Davis lawyer supportive of the protesters, said that the settlement “sends a clear message to the next officer nervously facing off with a group of passive, unarmed students: Go on ahead. Brutalize them. Trample their rights. You will be well taken care of.”
According to a psychiatrist who evaluated Pike after the incident, he suffered “continued and significant internal and external stress with respect to resolving and solving significant emotional upheavals that have occurred.”
Earlier this year, the university paid the 21 plaintiffs who were sprayed and arrested by Pike 30,000 each, and another 15 $6,666.
UC Davis does not plan on reinstating Pike as a member of the police force. Pike will receive retirement benefits and be paid an annual salary of $121,680.
Check out the video of the incident here:
So the officer who caused harm on peaceful protesters gets awarded more than them.
Wow.
Thoughts on the ruling?
Should Pike receive the award for suffering from actions that he himself created?
Sound off below!