Defunding / abolishing school police (consolidated thread)

After rough student arrest, will St. Paul schools kick police out?

Video of a teenager’s arrest Wednesday at Central High School is reopening the debate over police officers’ role in schools just as St. Paul Public Schools is working on a new contract with the city police department. School board member Steve Marchese wrote on Facebook that he’s “angry and appalled” at the 16-year-old former student’s rough treatment. “Whatever the reason, he did not deserve what is depicted in this video,” Marchese wrote. “To have this kind of action perpetuated by a white school resource officer who is supposed to be protecting our students and staff is unacceptable and raises questions ...

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http://www.twincities.com/2016/05/2...-school-police-officers-student-rough-arrest/

 

White Students Get Experienced Teachers, While Black Students Get Police In School

In America, the most rigorous classes, experienced teachers and moderate discipline practices tend to be reserved for white students, according to new survey results from the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Education’s Civil Rights Data Collection surveys 99 percent of the nation’s public schools on issues related to the level of opportunity provided to their students. The survey, which is conducted every other school year, collects data about students’ access to classes, teachers and school discipline trends. The latest survey, which has data from the 2013-2014 school year, also collected data on issues like student absenteeism and the ...

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/civil-rights-data-collection_us_5755a512e4b0ed593f14fcb7

 

Teen arrested for allegedly stealing 65-cent milk at school will not face charges

A teenager who was accused of stealing a 65-cent carton of milk from a Prince William County middle school cafeteria will not face trial after prosecutors decided to drop charges against him Thursday. Ryan Turk, now 15, was arrested in May at Graham Park Middle School in Triangle, Va., after he allegedly cut in the lunch line and grabbed a milk container. Ryan, who qualifies for free lunch at the school, said that he had forgotten to take milk while in line in the cafeteria and decided to return for it. A school resource officer arrested him and charged him ...

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/loca...3fef08-d8f1-11e6-b8b2-cb5164beba6b_story.html

 

Guest editorial: S.C. should end 'schoolhouse to jailhouse pipeline'

Maintaining discipline in the classroom can be a challenge for any teacher. And few things can harm other students' ability to focus and learn more than a particularly disruptive classmate. That much is clear. But it's far less clear when disruptive behavior crosses the line from a disciplinary infraction to a crime worthy of prosecution by the juvenile justice system. Resolving that confusion is in part the goal of a bill in the S.C. House that would, among other things, form a joint committee to investigate and make recommendations regarding the so-called "schoolhouse to jailhouse pipeline." That "pipeline" is unfortunately ...

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http://www.aikenstandard.com/opinio...cle_d53bc28c-1984-11e7-99c0-43cbfb289110.html

 

Sayonara, bully boy: Dennis Turner fired!


Too stupid to eat donuts, "retired" Orlando police officer & Neanderthal throwback Dennis Turner now spends his golden years arresting, handcuffing & booking 6 & 8 year old children:​

Dennis Turner at his "retirement" in 2018​

Florida grandmother outraged after 6-year-old arrested for ‘tantrum’

A Florida grandmother was shocked to find out her 6-year-old granddaughter had been arrested Thursday for throwing a tantrum. Meralyn Kirkland says Kaia’s journey to the juvenile detention center by Orlando Police Officers began at Lucious and Emma Dixon Elementary charter school. “What do you mean she was arrested, he said ‘there was an incident and she kicked somebody and she is being charged and she is on her way,’” Kirkland explained. The disorienting chaos was too much for Kirkland to process. “She has a medical condition that we are working on getting resolved and he says, ‘what medical condition, ...

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https://www.wbtw.com/news/state-reg...traged-after-6-year-old-arrested-for-tantrum/

 

Girl, 6, arrested and had mugshot taken after tantrum at school

A six-year-old child was handcuffed, taken out of school and made to pose for a mugshot by police because she had a tantrum at school and ended up kicking a teacher. The teacher had allegedly grabbed Kaia Rolle by her wrists to try to calm her down while at school in Orlando, Florida, US. After she lashed out, the school resource officer at Lucious And Emma Nixon Academy Charter School arrested the little girl. She was taken to a juvenile centre on a charge of ‘battery’. School resource officers (SROs) have similar powers to police officers and are on call ...

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https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/22/girl-6-arrested-mugshot-taken-tantrum-school-10787180/

 

Florida school resource officer who arrested two kids, ages 6 and 8, is under investigation

Authorities are investigating after an Orlando school resource officer arrested two elementary school students ages 6 and 8 on misdemeanor charges. Officer Dennis Turner is facing an internal investigation because he failed to follow department policy that requires officers to obtain approval from a watch commander before arresting minors younger than 12, Chief Orlando Rolon said in a statement. Turner's duties have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. "The Orlando Police Department has a policy that addresses the arrest of a minor and our initial finding shows the policy was not followed," Rolon said. "As a grandparent of ...

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...tion-after-arresting-kids-6-and-8/2411142001/

 

This article refers to Dennis Turner as a "reserve school resource officer". That likely explains how he is retired (see above) but still apparently working.


Florida officer suspended after arresting two kids, ages 6 and 8, at school

A Florida police officer was suspended after he arrested two young children in school last week, including a 6-year-old who was acting out because of an apparent medical condition, a relative and police said. Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón said in a statement that the reserve school resource officer, Dennis Turner, did not obtain the approval of a commanding officer before making the arrests on Thursday, as department policy requires. Turner was suspended while the department conducts an internal inquiry, Rolón said. “The Orlando Police Department has a policy that addresses the arrest of a minor and our initial finding ...

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https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/...er-arresting-two-kids-ages-6-and-8-at-school/

 

A 6-year-old threw a tantrum in class. She was arrested for battery.

Meralyn Kirkland couldn’t believe what she was being told. The caller on Thursday had a message about her granddaughter, Kaia Rolle. The 6-year-old had been arrested at her Orlando charter school and was going to be taken to a juvenile facility. “I say, ‘What do you mean she was arrested?’ ” Kirkland told WKMG on Friday. There was “an incident,” Kirkland recalled the caller saying — Kaia “kicked somebody and she’s being charged.” The Orlando Police Department said it is now investigating actions taken by Dennis Turner, the school resource officer who arrested Kaia and an 8-year-old student in separate ...

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...ssroom-arrested-battery-school-investigation/

 

Florid school resource officer faces investigation after arresting 6-year-old

The Orlando Police Department said it is now investigating actions taken by Dennis Turner, the school resource officer who arrested Kaia and an 8-year-old student in separate events on the same day last week. The caller on Thursday had a message about her granddaughter, Kaia Rolle. The 6-year-old had been arrested at her Orlando charter school and was going to be taken to a juvenile facility. “I say, ‘What do you mean she was arrested?’” Kirkland told WKMG on Friday. There was “an incident,” Kirkland recalled the caller saying - Kaia “kicked somebody and she’s being charged.” The Orlando Police ...

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https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/2...aces-investigation-after-arresting-6-year-old



Florida school resource officer faces investigation after arresting 6-year-old

The Orlando Police Department said it is now investigating actions taken by Dennis Turner, the school resource officer who arrested Kaia and an 8-year-old student in separate events on the same day last week. The caller on Thursday had a message about her granddaughter, Kaia Rolle. The 6-year-old had been arrested at her Orlando charter school and was going to be taken to a juvenile facility. “I say, ‘What do you mean she was arrested?’” Kirkland told WKMG on Friday. There was “an incident,” Kirkland recalled the caller saying - Kaia “kicked somebody and she’s being charged.” The Orlando Police ...

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https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/2...aces-investigation-after-arresting-6-year-old



Florida school resource officer faces investigation after arresting 6-year-old

The Orlando Police Department said it is now investigating actions taken by Dennis Turner, the school resource officer who arrested Kaia and an 8-year-old student in separate events on the same day last week. The caller on Thursday had a message about her granddaughter, Kaia Rolle. The 6-year-old had been arrested at her Orlando charter school and was going to be taken to a juvenile facility. “I say, ‘What do you mean she was arrested?’” Kirkland told WKMG on Friday. There was “an incident,” Kirkland recalled the caller saying - Kaia “kicked somebody and she’s being charged.” The Orlando Police ...

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https://www.newsherald.com/news/201...aces-investigation-after-arresting-6-year-old



Florida school resource officer faces investigation after arresting 6-year-old

The Orlando Police Department said it is now investigating actions taken by Dennis Turner, the school resource officer who arrested Kaia and an 8-year-old student in separate events on the same day last week. The caller on Thursday had a message about her granddaughter, Kaia Rolle. The 6-year-old had been arrested at her Orlando charter school and was going to be taken to a juvenile facility. “I say, ‘What do you mean she was arrested?’” Kirkland told WKMG on Friday. There was “an incident,” Kirkland recalled the caller saying - Kaia “kicked somebody and she’s being charged.” The Orlando Police ...

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https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/...aces-investigation-after-arresting-6-year-old

 

Florida Police Officer Arrested and Handcuffed a 6-Year-Old Black Girl for a Tantrum in Class

Orlando resident Meralyn Kirkland was shocked last Thursday to learn that her granddaughter had been arrested at her elementary school. Kaia Rolle, who is 6 years old, was throwing a tantrum in class and kicked a staff member when school resource officer Dennis Turner handcuffed her, put her in the back of his cruiser, and drove her to a juvenile detention facility. By the time Kirkland heard about it, her granddaughter was being fingerprinted and officers had already taken her mug shots. "How do you do that to a 6-year-old child, and because she kicked somebody?" Kirkland said to WKMG. ...

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https://www.gq.com/story/six-year-old-black-girl-arrested-for-a-tantrum




Florida Police Officer Arrested and Handcuffed a 6-Year-Old Black Girl for a Tantrum in Class

Orlando resident Meralyn Kirkland was shocked last Thursday to learn that her granddaughter had been arrested at her elementary school. Kaia Rolle, who is 6 years old, was throwing a tantrum in class and kicked a staff member when school resource officer Dennis Turner handcuffed her, put her in the back of his cruiser, and drove her to a juvenile detention facility. WKMG. "A literal mug shot of a six-year-old girl."" data-reactid="12">By the time Kirkland heard about it, her granddaughter was being fingerprinted and officers had already taken her mug shots. "How do you do that to a 6-year-old child, ...

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https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/florida-police-officer-arrested-handcuffed-150825644.html

 

Officer Who Arrested Two 6-Year-Old Students Suspended

This past weekend, when I told my friend that a six-year-old had been arrested, he didn’t believe me. He couldn’t conceptualize a child that young committing an offense worthy of jail time and then being handcuffed and charged for that offense. And while what Kaia Rolle did—kicking a teacher— was inappropriate behavior, it is not out of the realm of normalcy for a school-aged child. Still, she was handcuffed, fingerprinted and had her mugshot taken for the action. Her grandmother, Meralyn Kirkland, told Array that her granddaughter was charged with battery. Kirkland said that Kaia suffers from sleep apnea, the ...

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https://madamenoire.com/1101960/officer-who-arrested-two-6-year-old-students-suspended/

 

State Attorney Ayala declines to prosecute two young children arrested at school

CNN and other national news outlets are reporting the school resource officer who arrested the children has been fired by the Orlando Police Department. At a Monday afternoon press conference, State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced she is declining to prosecute two young children, ages 6 and 8, following their arrests last week at an Orlando charter school. The 6-year-old, a girl who suffers from sleep apnea, reportedly kicked a school staff member during a temper tantrum. "When it comes to little elementary-aged children we will not negotiate justice, ever. Today, the healing can start," said Ayala. "I can assure you ...

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https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs...osecute-two-young-children-arrested-at-school

 

Sayonara, bully boy!


Officer fired after arresting 6-year-olds at school

A police officer who arrested two 6-year-old students at a Florida elementary school last week has been fired. Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon announced Officer Dennis Turner's termination Monday afternoon. He says he reminded other officers of department policy that prohibits arrests of children under 12 without a manager's approval. State Attorney Aramis Ayala, head prosecutor of Orange and Osceola counties, said earlier Monday she was dismissing misdemeanor battery charges against both children. Officials didn't say what prompted the arrests. The girl’s grandmother, Meralyn Kirkland, told local media the girl wasn’t sleeping well because of a medical condition and kicked ...

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https://www.wistv.com/2019/09/24/officer-fired-after-arresting-year-olds-school/

 

Orlando Officer Is Terminated After Arresting 6-Year-Olds

A reserve officer with the Orlando Police Department was terminated Monday after hearrested two 6-year-old children last week without the proper approval, Chief Orlando Rolón said. The 6-year-olds, one boy and one girl, faced misdemeanor battery charges but will not be prosecuted, Aramis Ayala, the state attorney who serves Orange County, Fla., said at a news conference on Monday. The state attorney’s office never intended to prosecute the children, but could not dismiss the girl’s charges until Monday, Ms. Ayala said. The boy’s charges will be dismissed once his case number is assigned, she added. “I refuse to knowingly play ...

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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/us/6-year-old-orlando-florida.html