A superior court judge temporarily blocked the release of a report regarding an incident of police use of pepper spray at UC Davis last year.
The pepper-spraying incident, which occurred in November, garnered widespread criticism of the University of California’s treatment of Occupy demonstrators. In response, UC President Mark Yudof formed an official task force to investigate the incident and prompted a systemwide review of police policies and procedures pertaining to protest activities.
Former California Supreme Court Associate Justice Cruz Reynoso and 12 other task force members were scheduled to publicly report today their findings from the pepper spraying incident along with recommendations to the University.
A police union requested that the report be blocked from public disclosure, according to a statement from the UC Office of the President released Monday.
With the new temporary restraining order, the contents of the report will not be released for the time being. The police union and University will present their case at another hearing, said UC spokeswoman Dianne Klein.
“We are obviously disappointed that public disclosure of the findings and recommendations of the task force chaired by former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso has been delayed,” said UC General Counsel Charles Robinson.
A judge will make a final ruling whether the report should be released after hearing both sides on March 16, Klein said.
Compiled by Nicole Chiang, Bruin contributor.