City Schools CEO Reacts To Video Of Officer Striking Student
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's the video that went viral: a Baltimore City school police officer seen slapping and kicking a student. Now, nearly a week later and for the first time, the school system's top leader is addressing the disturbing video and city leaders are meeting with parents.
Ava-joye Burnett has their reaction.
WJZ was first to show you that video and bring it to city school leaders' attention. Now schools CEO Gregory Thornton is reacting and also doing some damage control.
It's a shocking video many people just can't understand. A school police officer was seen slapping and kicking a tenth grader.
"We didn't want and they didn't want one incident to define the school," said Baltimore Public Schools CEO Dr. Gregory Thornton.
"Very outraged because I felt like it was another way to handle the situation," said Phyllis Gilmore, parent of two students at REACH and vice president for Woodburn Mccay Neighborhood Association.
Monday night inside REACH Partnership, the top man in Baltimore City public schools reassured parents this incident does not define the school system.
"Really, it was a great conversation around how we move forward from the challenges that we had a few days ago," Thornton said. "We will take a look at, certainly, our training. We're going to take a look at our recruitment, we'll take a look at our selection process. This is an opportunity for improvement and we're certainly going to utilize it as that."
As the investigation continues, the school district is also exploring the option of putting body cameras on school police officers.
"It's a lengthy process, very legal, because we have to make sure we don't violate the rights of any of our students if police officers did have body cameras," said Karl Perry, chief officer of school support.
The fallout after this video has gone straight to the top. The school police chief is now on administrative leave, as is the officer seen landing the slaps---and so is the other officer who stood by and didn't intervene.
As this investigation plays out, many are watching and waiting to see how the school system will handle this.
"But I think justice should take its course and things should be handled in the proper way," said Gilmore.
We asked why the school police chief was placed on administrative leave even though he wasn't in the building when this happened. We were told this is a personnel matter that can't be addressed publicly.
The Baltimore City police department is assisting with the criminal investigation.