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Pepper spraying of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators was an incident involving New York City police officer and Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna that occured during the Occupy Wall Street protests.

On September 26, 2011, the New York Police Department's efforts to maintain crowd control suddenly escalated. Protesters were corralled by police officers with an orange mesh netting when Bologna used pepper spray on four women who were on the sidewalk behind the orange netting. Two of those women stated in interviews that they had received no warning before being sprayed and that its use was unprovoked. Many protesters were recording the events with cameras; videos of the pepper spray episode offered views from several angles. Before additional videos were released evidencing Bologna using the pepper spray, NYPD spokesman Paul J. Browne stated that Bologna used pepper spray "appropriately," adding that "Pepper spray was used once, after individuals confronted officers and tried to prevent them from deploying a mesh barrier" Members of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement responded to this by releasing additional videos from several angles. A second video posted to the Daily Kos, apparently taken seconds later, showed Bologna spraying a photographer wearing a press card, who later said Bologna told him to leave the area and that he could be arrested.

Deputy Inspector Roy Richter, head of the Captains Endowment Association, a union representing high-ranking officers, said, "Deputy Inspector Bologna’s actions that day were motivated by his concern for the safety of officers under his command and the safety of the public. The limited use of pepper spray effectively restored order without any escalation of force or serious injury to either demonstrator or police officer." New York Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said that the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau would examine the incident, but also criticized "tumultuous" protesters whom he called "disorderly" and "intent on blocking traffic" as they marched on University Place. The use of pepper spray is primarily limited to use against those resisting arrest or for protection, but is allowed to officers with special training for use in "disorder control".

References

1. Amateau, Albert (June 28-July 5, 2005). "After years of trouble-shooting, he gets a precinct". The Villager. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/nyregion/wall-street-demonstrations-test-police-trained-for-bigger-threats.html
3. Baker, Al. "New York Police to Examine Pepper-Spray Episode - NYTimes.com". Cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
4. Goldstein, Joseph (September 25, 2011). "Videos Show Police Using Pepper Spray at Protest on the Financial System". The New York Times.
5. "Officer Bologna" Occupy Wall Street website, September 26, 2011
6. Charlie Grapski (2011-09-28). "Bologna's Second Attack with Pepper Spray". Daily Kos.
7. ^ Al Baker and Joseph Goldstein (2011-09-28). "Officer's Pepper-Spraying of Protesters Is Under Investigation". New York Times.

• Protests
• 2011 in New York
• Protests in the United States
• New York City Police Department