Chancellor: ‘We are moving swiftly’
4.13.12
Dear UC Davis Community:
The Reynoso task force report illuminated clearly and
sharply the need for major reform of campus police operations and better
coordination, collaboration and communication within the UC Davis
administration and with the broader university community. We are moving swiftly
to address these issues and any others that need attention. In fact, we began
addressing several areas of need prior to the release of the Task Force report. While the Reynoso task force addresses many
areas for broad improvement, parallel but wholly independent internal affairs
inquiries (so-called “I. A.’s”) into officer conduct have been ongoing and are
nearing completion. These inquiries will inform personnel decisions.
Meanwhile, Acting Police Chief Matt Carmichael has, in
consultation with campus leadership, asked independent experts to audit
department policies and training records, and propose needed changes. Acting
Chief Carmichael also has invited an internationally recognized expert in
police accountability to lead a campus forum on this topic. This is envisioned
as a possible step toward establishing a campus police review commission. If
adopted, it would be just the second in the UC system. He will provide details
soon. We will also commission an independent, top-to-bottom audit of campus
police operations, as the Task Force recommends. And, we await a report from
the Special Committee of the Davis Division of the UC Academic Senate, and
results of a system-wide analysis of police practices led by UC Berkeley Law
School Dean Christopher Edley and UC Office of the President General Counsel
Charles Robinson. We will seek ways to utilize both reports in our planning.
Efforts to improve administrative coordination,
collaboration and communication are also underway. On April 6, I announced the
creation of a Campus Community Council, with broad student, academic, staff,
emeriti, alumni, community and administrative representatives. This council
will meet for the first time next week.
It will be an additional venue for receiving campus input on strategic
campus issues, including those raised by the Task Force. Effective
collaboration, of course, extends beyond our campus. Since the report’s
release, I have met with several state lawmakers and other external community
members. I will meet next week with Justice Reynoso and several task force
members.
These actions are only a start; they will be part of a
comprehensive action plan that will be shared with the campus community. I want to hear from you as we forge a path
forward. Please send comments to reviews@ucdavis.edu.
I’ll continue to keep you regularly updated on our progress and your feedback.
Sincerely,
Linda P.B. Katehi
Chancellor, UC Davis
Source: http://chancellor.ucdavis.edu/messages/2012/task_force_041312.html
Not surprisingly, the report triggered much editorial comment. Examples:
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/14/2799105/editorial-uc-davis-pepper-spray.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/13/INLN1MNVJT.DTL
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-0413-davis-20120413,0,1292225.story
UPDATE: UC-Davis chancellor takes full responsibility:
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2012/04/uc-davis-chancellor-addresses-pepper-spray-report.html
UPDATE: UC-Davis police chief resigns:
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2012/04/embattled-uc-davis-police-chief-annette-spicuzza-retires.html
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