Lt. John Pike, 39, the UC Davis police officer who became a focal point of last November’s pepper spraying incident during a campus protest, is no longer employed by the University.
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According to The Sacramento Bee, UC Davis spokesman Barry Shiller said he could not discuss the details of Pike’s departure, but in response to queries from The Bee, he said Pike was no longer employed there as of Tuesday.
Pike declined to comment when reached by The Bee, saying he wanted to consult with his attorney first.
Pike’s 2010 salary was listed as $110, 243.12. He has been on paid leave since the debacle unfolded last year, sparking worldwide outrage, numerous investigations and calls for the resignation of UC Davis leaders.
Pike’s leave coincided with an internal affairs investigation into his and other officers’ actions on the campus quad Nov. 18, when Pike and at least one other officer used pepper spray on students and protestors who were seated and had locked arms, refusing police orders to disperse.
UC Davis officials have said that because the internal affairs probes are confidential, they cannot disclose their findings.
As a result of cell phone video showing Pike spraying the students and protesters, he became the primary symbol of the public outrage over the incident, as the images spread worldwide on the Internet.
Pike, a former Sacramento police officer, was suspended with pay after the incident, along with another officer and then-UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza.
Spicuzza retired in April after an independent panel issued an investigative report that severely criticized her leadership of the police department and found fault with much of the University leadership during the crisis.
The University, Pike and other officers, have since been sued by students who say they were victims of the pepper spraying. The Yolo County District Attorney’s office is still reviewing the matter to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.
