University of California President Mark G. Yudof has appointed the members of a task force to investigate the UC Davis police department's use of pepper spray on Nov. 18.
The task force, headed by former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso, will begin its work after the Kroll Consulting firm completes its investigation by early January, said a statement from Yudof.
"The task force will review the findings and, based on available information, assign responsibility for the events of Nov. 18," Yudof's statement says.
It also says the task force is expected to make recommendations to Yudof and UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi on improving police procedures, command protocols, campus policies and oversight structures.
"My intent in forming this task force is to allow the UC Davis community to take a fair and uncompromising look at what happened on Nov. 18," Yudof's statement says.
The task force members Yudof named today are:
- Patrick Blacklock, Yolo County administrator and immediate past-chair, nominated by the Cal Aggie Alumni Association
- Peter Blando, business services manager, UC Davis Office of the Vice Provost--Information and Educational Technology, and past chair, UC Davis Staff Assembly, nominated by the UC Davis Staff Assembly
- Alan Brownstein, professor, UC Davis School of Law, nominated by the Academic Senate
- Tatiana Bush, UC Davis undergraduate student and former Associated Students senator, nominated by the Associated Students of UC Davis
- Daniel M. Dooley, senior vice president of external relations, UC Office of the President and designated system-wide administrator for whistleblower complaints; alumnus, UC Davis
- Penny Herbert, manager, UC Davis Department of Clinical Operations, and staff advisor to the UC Board of Regents
- Kathryn Kolesar, chair, UC Davis Graduate Student Association, nominated by the Graduate Student Association
- William McKenna, UC Davis law student, nominated by the Law Students Association
- Carolyn Penny, director in International Law Programs and principal and mediator, Common Ground Center for Cooperative Solutions, UC Davis Extension, nominated by the UC Davis Academic Federation
- Eric Rauchway, professor, UC Davis Department of History, nominated by the Academic Senate
- Judy Sakaki, vice president, student affairs, UC Office of the President and former vice chancellor for student affairs, UC Davis
- Rebecca Sterling, UC Davis undergraduate student and former Associated Students senator, nominated by the Associated Students of UC Davis
The task force's work is one of several investigations taking place into the use of pepper spray on seated protesters. UC Davis and its academic senate are also reviewing the campus police department's response to the Nov. 18 demonstration, and Attorney General Kamala Harris is reviewing a request to look into it as well.
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