The UC Davis Cop has a Checkered Past

Lt. John Pike is the name of the cop who pepper sprayed the students at UC Davis. And since this pic hit the news, John's past is coming out:

He has twice been honored by the university for exceptional police work, including a 2006 incident in which he tackled a scissor-wielding hospital patient who was threatening fellow officers. Afterward, he said he decided against using pepper spray because it might harm his colleagues or other hospital patients.

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.

The activist group Anonymous have posted  John's personal info on their site and his pic above is being used for blogs and T-shirts.

Right now, John is on paid leave from his duties.


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