Proviso West High School resource officer under arrest after video shows him attacking student
11 December 2021
A school resource officer from Proviso West High School has been arrested after physically assaulting a student. Grainy video released Friday night by the district shows the officer grab and throw the student to the ground in a classroom in an "unprompted assault." " I am extremely disappointed, no -- I'm upset by what transpired today. No adult should ever put their hands on a child in that manner - especially not in a school setting," Supt. Dr. James Henderson said in a written statement. Henderson said he directed school staff to contact authorities immediately and the SRO was taken ...
Statement from Proviso Township High School District 209:
A School Resource Officer from Proviso West High School has been arrested after physically assaulting a student.
The officer entered a classroom and confronted a male student who was sitting at a white board, with permission from the teacher. The officer made demands of the student then proceeded to grab him, throw him against the white board, and then onto the floor. This was an unprompted assault on a child who was not a threat to himself or anyone else. He was not combative, and he was not engaging in any disruptive behavior.
Dr. James L. Henderson, the Superintendent of Schools, says he and the team at PTHS D209 work tirelessly, every day to ensure schools are safe havens for each and every scholar who walks through the doors.
"I am extremely disappointed, no - I'm upset by what transpired today," Henderson said. "No adult should ever put their hands on a child in that manner - especially not in a school setting. The behavior exhibited by the SRO is consistent with what we see flash across our TV screens almost daily - with Black and Brown young men being targets of police officers. Our scholars deserve better than that and we will do everything in our power to protect them."
Henderson directed school staff to contact authorities immediately and the SRO was taken into custody. He will not be allowed back on our school grounds.
"To the student who was assaulted and every student who witnessed the assault - I want you to know that what you saw is wrong, on every level," Henderson said. "I want you to know that the Board of Education, administrators, teachers, staff and I will not tolerate such treatment of any of our scholars!"
Students in Proviso and all across the nation are already dealing with increased levels of stress and depression, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SRO's behavior exacerbates the tension and pressure the scholars are already dealing with. Henderson and the team in Proviso have been strategic and intentional about providing a myriad of avenues to support mental health. Students are encouraged to reach out to a trusted adult when they feel discouraged.
The District will continue to investigate the assault.
A Proviso West High School employee has been arrested after physically assaulting a student.
abc7chicago.com
