Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
AP NEWS

UAPD will not suspend use of pepper spray

The University of Arizona Police Department will continue to allow its officers to use pepper spray, despite the injury and death earlier this month involving Tucson police use of the chemical agent.

UAPD Sgt. Michael Smith said he thinks pepper spray is a great alternative to using other police impact weapons, such as an expandable baton.

"It's better than taking a (baton) and wapping them with it," Smith said. "If someone walks by and (sees) an officer using (the baton), it could look abusive."

The Tucson Police Department has temporarily suspended their use of pepper spray after two separate incidents that left one man dead and another in critical condition.

Jeramie Johnson, 28, died August 8 after TPD officers sprayed him twice with pepper spray when he resisted arrest. On August 16, Matthew Foley Jr., 24, ended up in critical condition after being sprayed twice by officers when he allegedly attacked a Tucson woman at a local business.

TPD Sgt. Brett Klein said preliminary toxicology on the men showed they both had cocaine in their systems. It is not known if pepper spray contributed to the casualties.

Smith said the use of pepper spray on campus is uncommon and no deaths have resulted from its use. Smith said the last time he could remember officers using it was a couple of years ago.

"About two years ago there was a major disturbance at Gentle Ben's with a potentially violent crowd," he said. "We sprayed pepper spray in the air to disperse the crowd, and it affected about 20 to 30 people."

The department follows a code of conduct that describes the circumstances in which pepper spray is used, Smith said. The officer must first give a verbal warning and attempt to use defensive tactics before resorting to pepper spray.

Smith said the spray causes irritation to the eyes and, if the person is under the influence of drugs or has respiratory problems, the combination can cause serious injury or even death.

He added that a person who has been sprayed could have problems breathing. Officers are instructed to place the subjects on their side or in an upright position after being sprayed to help respiration.

Smith said the department is required to provide a spraying victim with treatment after they have been handcuffed and restrained.

"Heat intensifies (the effects)," Smith said. "You want to get them out of the sun, into fresh air and wash the area with soap and water."

Wayne Adickes, assistant department head of the UA chemistry department, said Oleoresin Capsicum, a cayenne pepper spray, is generally considered to be safe.

Adickes said there is no chemical available to police that is completely safe for everybody.

"It has to have a certain effect on a person, because it has to subdue them," Adickes said.

"Pepper spray is generally considered to be safe but the same can be said about peanuts," Adickes said. "Although peanuts are generally considered safe, it does not mean it's absolutely safe under every situation and condition."