Judge: U. of California can release pepper-spray report, but must remove officers’ names
Associated Press
March 29, 2012
The University of California can release a report on the pepper-spraying of student demonstrators by UC Davis police but must first remove the names of most officers, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo said the task force report does not contain confidential personnel records of police officers who were interviewed during an investigation into the Nov. 18 crackdown on Occupy Wall Street protesters.
Still, Grillo said he wants the university to redact the names of officers to protect them from harassment. The exceptions are Police Chief Annette Spicuzza and Lt. John Pike, whose names became public during media coverage of the confrontation.
The judge said the document cannot be released for at least 21 days to give the officers a chance to appeal the ruling.
UC General Counsel Charles Robinson said the university was pleased the judge ruled almost entirely in UC’s favor, but it would still like the officers’ names made public.
