The summation is two 18-year-old girls were fighting at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla. In an attempt to break up the fight, the resource officer (a police officer assigned to keep peace and order at the school) decided to Taser them.Both girls were immediately taken to the hospital. Separate hospitals actually - just in case, I guess.
"Tasering them, that's serious. They could've done some serious damage to her, nerve damage or whatever. You don't just Tase somebody like that. That's a lot of voltage going through her body," said Janice Robinson, mother of one of the girls, to Local 10.
This is absolutely and utterly an unnecessary use of force. Fights are terrible but maybe if these girls had pulled out weapons, a taser gun might have been called for.
Whatever happened to the days of teachers pulling students apart while shouting "anyone standing here in ten minutes gets detention for a week!"
Honestly, I don't think it's such a bad idea to just let students brawl for a few minutes. It might be somewhat barbaric, but it could allow them to work off some steam before planting their butts in the confines of in-school suspension.
And let's not kid ourselves, as soon as these girls are back on their feet, they'll be back at each other's throats. This time though, it'll be out of the Taser's watchful range.
As for the officer, nothing was said about how he'll be handled. Maybe a lawsuit from the parents of the kids would send a message that says protection that a firm grip is better than an electric shock.
SIDENOTE: The event actually took place at 7:30 a.m. Can't kids today at least wait until after grown-ups have had their morning coffee?
ORIGINAL STORY:
Officer Shoots 2 Girls With Taser Gun At High School
BSO: Resource Officer Stops Students Fighting
POSTED: Monday, February 2, 2009
UPDATED: 5:00 am EST February 3, 2009
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. -- A school resource officer shocked two teenage girls with a Taser gun at a high school in order to stop a fight Monday morning, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
BSO said the two 18-year-old girls began fighting at about 7:30 a.m. at Blanche Ely High School. They were identified as Kayla Robinson and Latia Johnson.
Before the first school bell rang, a school resource officer came upon a group of girls locked in a brawl. He tried to break it up, but when the students refused to back off, another deputy fired his Taser gun, striking both Robinson and Johnson, Local 10's Roger Lohse reported.
Both girls were taken in for medical clearance. One went to North Broward Medical Center, and the other went to Imperial Point Medical Center.
The teenagers were OK, but Robinson's mother, Janice Robinson, said she is shocked the deputy did not find a safer way to break up the fight.
"Tasering them, that's serious. They could've done some serious damage to her, nerve damage or whatever. You don't just Tase somebody like that. That's a lot of voltage going through her body," Janice Robinson said.
Local 10 took Robinson's concerns to BSO, which provided a copy of the agency's policy on when deputies are allowed to draw their Tasers. Section 6.4 reads:
"When all other alternatives to restrain, secure and prevent injuries have failed and/or there may be a likely risk of injury to the deputy."
In this case, BSO said there were hundreds of other students gathered around as the school resource deputy physically tried to separate the girls. The second deputy thought the crowd was becoming unruly and felt the Taser was the safest way to restore order.
"You have a school resource deputy there. At any time, someone could have even reached for his weapon. So you want to gain control of the situation as soon as possible. You want to minimize any injuries, and you want to protect everyone that's involved -- our deputies, the students, everyone," said Veda Coleman-Wright of BSO.
Kayla Robinson, Johnson, 18-year-old Ashley French and two juveniles are charged with misdemeanor counts of simple battery and disrupting a school function.
The two juveniles were released to their parents. The other three were expected to post $1,000 bond to be released Monday evening.
It is unclear what sort of punishment the students will face from the school district.
Copyright 2009 by Post-Newsweek Stations.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Officer Shoots 2 Girls With Taser Gun At High School
BSO: Resource Officer Stops Students Fighting
POSTED: Monday, February 2, 2009
UPDATED: 5:00 am EST February 3, 2009
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. -- A school resource officer shocked two teenage girls with a Taser gun at a high school in order to stop a fight Monday morning, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.
BSO said the two 18-year-old girls began fighting at about 7:30 a.m. at Blanche Ely High School. They were identified as Kayla Robinson and Latia Johnson.
Before the first school bell rang, a school resource officer came upon a group of girls locked in a brawl. He tried to break it up, but when the students refused to back off, another deputy fired his Taser gun, striking both Robinson and Johnson, Local 10's Roger Lohse reported.
Both girls were taken in for medical clearance. One went to North Broward Medical Center, and the other went to Imperial Point Medical Center.
The teenagers were OK, but Robinson's mother, Janice Robinson, said she is shocked the deputy did not find a safer way to break up the fight.
"Tasering them, that's serious. They could've done some serious damage to her, nerve damage or whatever. You don't just Tase somebody like that. That's a lot of voltage going through her body," Janice Robinson said.
Local 10 took Robinson's concerns to BSO, which provided a copy of the agency's policy on when deputies are allowed to draw their Tasers. Section 6.4 reads:
"When all other alternatives to restrain, secure and prevent injuries have failed and/or there may be a likely risk of injury to the deputy."
In this case, BSO said there were hundreds of other students gathered around as the school resource deputy physically tried to separate the girls. The second deputy thought the crowd was becoming unruly and felt the Taser was the safest way to restore order.
"You have a school resource deputy there. At any time, someone could have even reached for his weapon. So you want to gain control of the situation as soon as possible. You want to minimize any injuries, and you want to protect everyone that's involved -- our deputies, the students, everyone," said Veda Coleman-Wright of BSO.
Kayla Robinson, Johnson, 18-year-old Ashley French and two juveniles are charged with misdemeanor counts of simple battery and disrupting a school function.
The two juveniles were released to their parents. The other three were expected to post $1,000 bond to be released Monday evening.
It is unclear what sort of punishment the students will face from the school district.
Copyright 2009 by Post-Newsweek Stations.
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