How Safe is Pepper Spray?

The November incident at UC Davis involving officers nonchalantly pepper spraying peaceful demonstrators caused waves around the world. Many considered it a significant lapse of the criminal justice system: was this really an appropriate situation in which to use force? However, the issue was somewhat muddied by the fact that many analysts downplayed the potency of pepper spray. Some shrugged it off as “a food product,” while others pointed to the fact that it’s completely safe and non-lethal. Unfortunately, neither of these claims is true. Most assume that police use the same pepper spray available to the public, but in fact police-grade pepper spray is three times stronger. Overall, it has one thousand times the spicy potency of a jalapeno pepper. And that bit about it being nonlethal? Since the 90s, there have been 70 incidents in which someone in police custody died after being pepper sprayed. At the very least, the effects of pepper spray should be looked into more carefully. And its use on nonviolent protestors should be thoroughly reassessed.