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Ex-cop who pepper-sprayed protesters awarded $38,000 in workers comp

DAVIS, Calif., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- A former California police officer who pepper-sprayed protesters has been awarded more than $38,000 for trauma he suffered after the incident, officials say.

John Pike received the award Oct. 16 from the state Division of Workers' Compensation Appeals Board for "psychiatric injury" he incurred from threatening messages he received after the incident, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday.

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Pike was a lieutenant in the University of California-Davis campus police on Nov. 16, 2011, when he pepper-sprayed for about 15 seconds protesters opposing tuition increases.

A video of the event went viral. While Pike was suspended with pay, the police union said he received more than 17,000 angry or threatening e-mails, 10,000 text messages and hundreds of letters.

He left the campus police force in July 2012.

The university earlier this year paid $1 million to three dozen protesters who were pepper-sprayed.

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