Pepper spray fallout: UC Davis campus police chief placed on leave following incident

(CBS) DAVIS, Calif. - The chief of the University of California, Davis's campus police joins two campus police officers who have been placed on paid administrative leave after the officers used pepper spray on a group of Occupy UC Davis protesters last week, reports CBS Sacramento.

A video of the officers using pepper spray at point-blank range on demonstrators sitting peacefully on the campus quad was shown on CBS Sacramento Friday and quickly drew accusations of excessive force.

UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi released a statement Monday morning announcing that campus police chief Annette Spicuzza has been placed on leave.

"As I have gathered more information about the events that took place on our Quad on Friday, it has become clear to me that this is a necessary step toward restoring trust on our campus," read the statement.

The UC Davis faculty association called for Katehi's resignation, saying in a Saturday letter there had been a "gross failure of leadership." Katehi has resisted calls for her to quit.

According to CBS Sacramento, the pepper spraying prompted the president of the University of California system to ask for an assessment of law enforcement procedures on all 10 campuses.

"Free speech is part of the DNA of this university, and non-violent protest has long been central to our history," UC President Mark G. Yudof said in a statement. "It is a value we must protect with vigilance