A report released by the East Lansing Police Department on May 3 probed the use of chemical agents, a sound system and damages of the April 2-3 disturbances and found that some police officers might have misused pepper spray when breaking up crowds.

At the request of the East Lansing City Council, the 200-page document is now being analyzed by an independent commission created to review police actions on the night of the disturbance.

Because many students and others involved said the police acted harshly and teargassed prematurely, the report highlights the use of force and contains detailed accounts from platoon leaders stationed throughout the city.

"Discipline, Discipline and Discipline" was the only way to keep control of the crowd, the report stated. Police are often outnumbered, and by using pepper spray and tear gas, officers are sometimes able to disperse angry crowds.

Pregame intelligence gathered by talking to students in residence halls led MSU and East Lansing police officers to believe that preparations for a riot were already underway.

Using behavioral patterns from past riots and disturbances, officers were able to determine that people flooding the streets of East Lansing would probably be angry, the report stated. One part of the report said "The worst events typically follow an Elite Eight or Final Four loss and are characterized by massive crowds that assemble within minutes and are instantly dangerous."

Lindsay Tizedes, a family community services senior, who was out celebrating the MSU men's basketball team's season on the night of the disturbances, said crowds had a peaceful mentality.

"They weren't doing anything wrong," she said during the disturbances. "If nobody is acting wild, then why use tear gas - that is what creates a riot mentality. It is overly aggressive and excessive."

East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert said the mission of police officers is to protect the citizens and properties in the city. The use of a chemical agent, such as tear gas, was merely a part of officers performing their duties, he added.

The city reported $5,775 in damage was caused that evening.

"The longer a disturbance goes, the more damage occurs," Wibert said. "A great example is the 2003 disturbance when people went onto campus and did $90,000 in damage."

Members of the independent commission formed to review the disturbance said the report is a tool to help gauge the actions of police officers.

"A lot of the information I have heard from other folks contradicts some of the statements of the officers," said Andrew Schepers, who is part of the independent commission and also serves as chairperson of ASMSU. "We are going to figure out what is right and what's not and determine what really did happen."

There are currently two investigations being done within the MSU Police Department, five in the East Lansing Police Department and one in the Michigan State Police Department, following formal complaints made by individuals involved in the disturbances.

One problem cited by citizens, and within the report, is the availability of an officer's identification while wearing riot gear. Only East Lansing police officers had their badge numbers on their helmets during the disturbance, according to the report.

Many witnesses to the disturbances said that by having officers stationed in the area in full riot gear created a sense of paranoia and hostility. Wibert included a passage in the report explaining that crowds act the same no matter what an officer is wearing.

Another topic brought up in the report is the use of a sound system during a disturbance. Before tear gas was utilized in the Cedar Village area, a message was read over loud speakers instructing crowds to disperse.

City and police officials originally maintained the system was effective in disbanding crowds, but according to the report, it actually drew more people into the crowds than it sent away.

Wibert said the city and police department would probably use the sound system again but would have the message continuously play so passersby would leave.

"Obviously, we are not going to fire tear gas into a crowd without warning," he said.