The University of California, Davis paid a public relations firm at least $175,000 to help restore its reputation after controversial images of a university police officer spraying student protesters with pepper spray made headlines in 2011, according to a report.
The university first hired Maryland public relations firm Nevins & Associates in 2013 at a fee of $15,000 per month, according to a Sacramento Bee report. The newspaper received copies of the company’s contract with the university after a public records request.
Nevins & Associates agreed to help scrub records of the incident from Google search results and consult with the schools chancellor on “brand enhancement,” according to the report. A quick Google search shows that the images of the incident are still readily available.
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Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com