Pepper spray cop was involved in anti-gay slur lawsuit which ended in $240,000 settlement

[Lochloosa]

The University of California, Davis, chancellor defended herself Tuesday from criticism over the campus police force's pepper spraying of peaceful demonstrators as information emerged about the officer at the heart of the incident.

Video footage of Lt. John Pike and another officer clad in riot gear casually spraying an orange cloud at the heads of protesters who were sitting peacefully on the ground has sparked national outrage since it began circulating online Friday night.

<snip>

But an alleged anti-gay slur by Pike also figured in a racial and sexual discrimination lawsuit a former police officer filed against the department, which ended in a $240,000 settlement in 2008.

Officer Calvin Chang's 2003 discrimination complaint against the university's police chief and the UC Board of Regents alleged he was systematically marginalized as the result of anti-gay and racist attitudes on the force, and he specifically claimed Pike described him using a profane anti-gay epithet.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2065035/Pepper-spraying-cop-anti-gay-slur-lawsuit-ending-240-000-settlement-previously-saying-spray-best-tool.html#ixzz1eYHSoTvq



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2065035/Pepper-spraying-cop-anti-gay-slur-lawsuit-ending-240-000-settlement-previously-saying-spray-best-tool.html#ixzz1eYHCPpbb

[beac]

1. So Pike is a homophobe as well as a sadistic coward?

Wish I could say this was surprising.

What is surprising is that he was kept on after costing his bosses a quarter of a million dollars (almost). Something stinks...

[JNinWB]

2. Sounds like an additional reason that Obama should not comment.

Potential legal action.

[Bragi]

5. He should not say constitutional rights need to be respected?

Your argument is a bit of a stretch.

[xchrom]

3. Recommend

[Bragi]

4. Glad U.S media are onto this. Oh, nevermind... /nt

[Withywindle]

6. He should have been canned for that.

Then maybe the pepper spray incident wouldn't even have happened.

[Hutzpa]

7. well duh!

that cold blooded attitude displayed should have told us the kind of
human being he is, no surprises there, bet he is laughing all the way
to the bank too while sitting at home with full pay.

I can't think of any American worker that will get disciplined on full
paid administrative leave, not at this day and age.

It is easier to see why the police department feels they're part of the 1%.