Federal class action suit charges New York City schools safety officers with use of “excessive force”
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) has filed suit on behalf of all middle and high school students attending New York City public schools, says the New York Daily News, alleging school safety officers have subjected kids to "excessive force." NYCLU’s suit claims middle and high-school students were "illegally" arrested for such minor infractions as writing on a desk or trying to get to the bathroom. "Students were handcuffed, arrested... injured, denied medical care, illegally interrogated, intimidated and humiliated by school safety officers," NYCLU executive director Donna Lieberman said. The city received 1,159 complaints against officers in 2008 - or an average roughly of one complaint for every five officers - the suit notes. From 2002 to 2007, the city averaged 500 complaints per year, with 27% of those complaints substantiated. Gregory Floyd, president of the safety officers’ union, fired back, saying the New York Police Department (NYPD) moved swiftly to deal with any improper behavior by safety officers. NYPD declined to comment, referring calls to Floyd. Executive Assistant Corp Counsel Celeste Koelveld said the city is reviewing the case. "School safety officers handle a very difficult job with professionalism and dedication," she said.
Source: New York Daily News, 1/21/10, By Rachel Monahan and Will Cruz
[Editor’s Note: Courthouse News Service, reporting on the suit, says NYCLU alleges school officers are inadequately trained and poorly supervised in their efforts to ensure the safety of the approximately 450,000 students in New York City's public middle schools and high schools. The article reports that, according to NYCLU, since the NYPD took control of public school safety in New York City in 1998, the number of police personnel assigned to patrol public schools has grown by 73% percent, with more than 5,000 school safety officers and nearly 200 armed officers currently assigned to the city's public schools. The article is available at the first link below. To view NYCLU’s legal complaint, see the second link below.]
Source: Courthouse News Service, 1/20/10, By Nick Divoto
NYCLU legal complaint