GJPD Pepper Spray Investigation Complete

[MrScorpio]

Disciplinary Action Is Taken Against 2 Officers So Far

POSTED: 6:22 pm MDT August 5, 2010

UPDATED: 6:35 pm MDT August 5, 2010

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- The investigation into whether four Grand Junction Officers misused pepper spray on some homeless property is over.
A second investigation began after three Grand Junction officers were fired for slashing the tents of the homeless. The possible misuse of pepper spray by several other officers came into question, pushing one officer to resign from the force.

Grand Junction's Police Chief John Camper says one officer was discovered to have misused his pepper spray.

The names of the officers involved are not being released. Camper says one officer sprayed the trees and the ground of an area where some transients lived.
It was originally thought the officer had used his pepper spray on personal items like a sleeping bag. The officer is still employed and received verbal discipline and a write up.

"And the officer had asked for some more OC spray to replace what he had used. And had indicated he had used it at a homeless camp. The supervisor probably should of asked some more questions about that and could have been corrected earlier," says Camper.

And since the supervisor didn't he was also written up for incident. Chief Camper says a third officer is still under investigation and his involvement is suppose to be released tomorrow.

Chief Camper has released a statement to the department describing the proper use of pepper spray.

"We've clarified what the rules are for OC spray which is a defensive weapon when it's needed. It's not meant to be a method of keeping people from coming into an area or something like that," says Camper.

http://www.kjct8.com/news/24532067/detail.html