Pa. police apologize for scissors arrest (of 10 Year Old Girl)

Boston Globe ^ | 12/13/04 | Maryclaire Dale

[kattracks]

PHILADELPHIA -- The police chief and the head of the city's schools apologized Monday to the mother of a 10-year-old girl who was arrested and handcuffed after she brought a pair of scissors to school in her backpack. Although officers were following protocol when they drove the girl to a police station with her hands cuffed in front of her, discretion will be used in future cases involving young children, Police Chief Sylvester Johnson said.

Johnson said he told Rose Jackson that the arrest of her daughter, Porsche Brown, was "extremely unfortunate" and apologized for "any trauma that her daughter experienced" on her way to the station. The district said Brown had violated a ban on bringing scissors -- which are considered potential weapons -- to school.

"But calling in local police to address such a matter involving a 10-year-old criminalized the young student who apparently meant no ill intent," said a statement from the office of school district Chief Executive Paul Vallas.

It also was "a waste of vital law enforcement resources," the statement said.

The girl's suspension, initially set for five days, was amended to two days and she was expected to return to class Tuesday, district spokeswoman Barbara Farley said Monday. She said she knew of no plans to expunge the suspension.

[snip]

Police officers decided Thursday that the girl hadn't committed a crime, and let her go.

[presidio9]

And then... the ORAL SEX!

[monday]

Does everyone see where we are headed when we put the safety Nazis in charge? Insanity. All sorts of enjoyable activities and useful products banned because they MIGHT harm someone.

Why do we put up with them? Because we are them. Each of us has a pet peeve, a product or activity we want banned because we don't like them.

Cell phones, cigarettes, skate boarding, SUV's, guns, hunting, knives, scissors, Big Mac's, chocolate, for crying out loud, why don't we just ban everything and require everyone to wrap themselves in cotton and lock themselves in their closets?

Do everyone a favor, go out and slap a safety Nazi NOW, before they take over the world.

[monday]

" I would be highly concerned if a child, 10 or not, brought 8" scissors to my child's elementary school, and the event was just swept under the rug"

YOU are a moron. The article says that she had no criminal intent.

[LexBaird]

The girl's suspension, initially set for five days, was amended to two days and she was expected to return to class Tuesday, district spokeswoman Barbara Farley said Monday. She said she knew of no plans to expunge the suspension.

Since school administrators are now strictly governed by protocols and "zero tolerance" policies, I propose we fire them all and replace them with simple decision tree flow charts. At least then there would be a reason for the total lack of initiative and common sense.

[Steve Van Doorn]

I think you are missing the point. If as you suggest did steal the scissors she should be punished for the theft not for having scissors. They are punishing her for having scissors not for the theft.

[Teacher317]

Although officers were following protocol when they drove the girl to a police station with her hands cuffed in front of her, discretion will be used in future cases involving young children, Police Chief Sylvester Johnson said.

Piffle and poppycock. Once discretion is used, especially in Philly, it will either be applied inequitably, or it will be accused of applying it inequitably. Then the Zero-Tolerance Nuts prance along, and set legislation in place to make sure that no intelligent discretion or decision-making will be allowed. Result of Liberal lunacy #127674.

[Teacher317]

DINGO: Yes, yes, you must give us all a good spanking!
GIRLS: A spanking! A spanking!
DINGO: And after the spanking, the oral sex.
GIRLS: Oral sex! Oral sex!
GALAHAD: Well, I could stay a BIT longer.
LAUNCELOT: Sir Galahad!
GALAHAD: Oh, hello.
LAUNCELOT: Quick!
GALAHAD: What?
LAUNCELOT: Quick!
GALAHAD: Why?
LAUNCELOT: You're in great peril!
LAUNCELOT: Silence, foul temptress!
GALAHAD: Now look, it's not important.
LAUNCELOT: Quick! Come on and we'll cover your escape!
GALAHAD: Look, I'm fine!
LAUNCELOT: Come on!
GALAHAD: Now look, I can tackle this lot single-handed!
DINGO: Yes! Let him tackle us single-handed!
GIRLS: Yes! Tackle us single-handed!
LAUNCELOT: No, Sir Galahad, come on!
GALAHAD: No, really, honestly, I can go back and handle this lot easily!
DINGO: Oh, yes, he can handle us easily.
GIRLS: Yes, yes!
GALAHAD: Wait! I can defeat them! There's only a hundred and fifty
of them!
DINGO: Yes, yes, he'll beat us easily, we haven't a chance.
GIRLS: Yes, yes.
[heavy door closes]
DINGO: Oh, sh**.

[Libertina]

Everyone involved in this should be fired. Twice.
Good enough to be posted. TWICE ;)

[Travis McGee]

Welcome to the new USSA, comrade.

All that is not mandatory, is forbidden.

[Teacher317]

When I taught in an (incredibly) rural school in 2000-01, there were plenty of high schoolers with (large, folding) pocket knives, etc. If there were fewer than 5% with firearms somewhere in their vehicles, I'd be stunned. The "Real" America still exists outside of the urban/suburban climates.

[BJungNan]

Everyone involved in this should be fired. Twice.

If they have anything in their offices that wouldn't make it past airport security, then they should be dragged out in handcuffs, and brought to the police station for their crimes.

After reading the first part of your post I was going to agree with you.

After reading the second part of your post I find that I really agree with you. Well said, excellent points!

[headsonpikes]

...she is either hiding them, or brandishing them. The sooner she learns she can't win, the safer the system will be.

Brilliant! I wish I'd posted that. ;^)

[Travis McGee]

The jackboot thug defenders will be on this thread, in short order.

Your antisocial attitude has been duly noted for the record, comrade.

[Travis McGee]

Sign at the entrance to the ant colony:

"All that is not forbidden is mandatory!"

(Once you master double-think, the rest is a snap.)

[BJungNan]

The newsroom at the Philadelphia Enquirer says the policy only applies to the children, not the teachers or administrators.

[houeto]

Everyone involved in this should be fired.

Nope, not the ones that enforce the stupid laws, the ones that PASS the stupid laws.

[SoDak]

I remember road-hunting pheasants on the way home from school as a senior when I drove in myself every day. Obviously, I went to a rural school. I had a class of 25 in a town of 300, and I lived 9 miles from town.

[beezdotcom]

I am sorry to see so many Freepers join the "poor victim of the mean cops" crowd.

Huh? I don't blame the cops one bit. The cops had little choice in the matter - it was the school administration that pressed the issue.

And yes, I read the article. Yes, they were 8" scissors. A standard pair of sewing or kitchen scissors is 8", from handle to point. The article said NOTHING about the BLADE being 8". So, on the surface, it appears that the kid went to jail for bringing to school the same type of scissors everyone has laying around their house. Unless you have better information.

And by the way, pinking shears are also about the same size. I'd still be tickled to find out that's what they were.

[Coleus]

was arrested and handcuffed after she brought a pair of scissors to school in her backpack.

[Coleus]

Group sues on behalf of child in Paper-Gun Incident

 

Make 'em pay. One PC bureaucrat at a time, Irvington, NJ, boys arrested and cuffed for paper gun

 

Zero tolerance for educrats
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/695054/posts

Zero tolerance takes toll on pupils
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/682754/posts

Reinstated Student Still Not In School - (zero tolerance idiocy strikes again)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/745870/posts

Tutorial in tolerance (high school kid in Marin County)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/687118/posts