Ok. So what “is” the proper technique, when dealing with a thuggish belligerent who has no respect for authority whatsoever, and who refuses to leave the premises? Has anyone or any police representative stated what the officer should have done instead?
Supposedly the student also struck the officer. Is that ok now? Are police now supposed to ‘turn the other cheek’ to these cretins?
Just trying to figure out what folks are supposed to do now when dealing with scumbags. What are the new rules here? Aside from just letting them get away with it.
He could have dragged her seat out of the room, with her sitting in it. Lock her out of the class and deal with it in the hallway. Let her sit in the hallway if she doesn’t want to get out of her seat.
Maybe the following:
1. Bring the principal and several other teacher witnesses to the classroom. Remove all other students from the room so they can’t interfere.
2. Make sure the camera is filming everything.
3. Warn the belligerent that if she doesn’t stand up and put her hands out to be cuffed within one minute, she will be Tasered.
4. Start the verbal 60-second countdown. The film will show she has ample time to comply as you count down.
5. If she does not comply, use the Taser to knock her out so that she can be removed from the classroom.
I have several times stated there were many alternatives to handling this other than what the officer did, which I believe was way over the top. He could’ve used a tazer, called another officer and both of them could’ve picked up the entire desk, or slid it out into the hall with the kid in it, they could’ve used pepper spray, or just get everyone else out of the class into another area until the situation was de-escalated - not necessarily in any particular order. There WERE several non-violent ways to deal with this situation, the officer obviously snapped.
No, the officer needed to flip the kid over backwards in her school desk and drag her along the wall and floor to prove he was the ultimate authority. What a perfectly reasonable use of force on a teenage girl for talking on her phone in class. The horrors of a teenage girl being belligerent towards authority must be immediately met with severe action though right?
And of course all school children should have punishment meted out this way because merely dealing with the issue by using suspensions (in school suspension would be a fate far worse than sitting through normal class), or being expelled if necessary, well, those things should be off the table. We really need more police officers manhandling our children in schools when they act up or cause a minor disruption.
Yes, definitely replace all administrative functions with police force, that will solve all of our schools’ disciplinary woes.
Yeah, that’s the ticket.
I’m SO glad I retired from law enforcement before the advent of readily available and easy to use video recorders.
What was seen in the 70’s and 80’s when I was wearing the uniform as acceptable use of force situations is now documented on video and in many cases sensationalized to the point where cops are increasingly becoming paralyzed by fear of losing their jobs or going to jail.
Want to know why vehicle pursuits happen so often nowadays?
Want to know why so many people are so openly defiant when interacting with the police?
Because back in the day, everyone knew there was going to be a good ass kicking administered at the end of the pursuit. The same goes with running away or resisting arrest or a lawful order. If I had to chase you down or lay hands upon you so we could conduct our business, you were going to pay for it and everyone back then knew it. There were no busybodies or eyes in the sky with high def video recorders capturing everything that happened. For whatever reason, people with poor impulse control understand bad behavior earns an immediate ass kicking much more readily than the long term ramifications of a court appearance somewhere in the future and they acted accordingly.
As harsh as that may sound, almost always, the bad guy ended up going to jail, even if we had to make a stop at the ER before booking. Now, with so much scrutiny, and so many people pointing at video to make a case for the suspect and against the cop, things have escalated to the point where the bad guy is as likely to end up going to the morgue instead of the hospital then to jail.
Certainly, things have evolved since I retired in 1988, but in my day, if you shot someone, that person had better actually have a gun they were going for. A “furtive movement” or “reaching for his waistband” would never have been accepted as an excuse for shooting an unarmed person.
Back then, failure to comply by putting your hands in your pocket would get you a punch in the face, or at worst, a flashlight across the head. Doing so today gets you shot.
What I’ve written here is not meant to be justification of how the deputy handled the situation that is the subject of this thread. In my time, what the deputy did would have not drawn this kind of attention and whatever complaints that were generated would have probably been met with the response that the girl should have complied when ordered to.
If this particular case does nothing else, it will be a clear message to every cop on the job, if the shit hits the fan, every one behind you is going to make sure you’re in front and get hit first. And for every punk kid that doesn’t want to behave in school, do whatever you want because you will get away with it and probably get a big cash settlement for your troubles.
It is impossible to predict right now just how big this can of worms is that just got opened here, but it’s going to be huge.
I must admit that the increasingly militaristic behavior of the police is disturbing to me as well, but I also understand well why it’s becoming this way. And it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
And I’m glad I’m no longer a cop.