School Board and Superintendent Give Support for Police Use of Tasers

October 21, 2009

Syracuse School Board members and the superintendent made a point of supporting the Syracuse Police use of Tasers in local schools during the School Board monthly business meeting Wednesday. The members of the board gave a simple message: the number one priority is the safety of the students and staff.

A police officer used a Taser to break up a fight at Fowler High School, September 28. The next day another officer used a Taser on a student who attacked him at Nottingham High School.

School Board President Kim Rohadfox-Ceaser brought up the discussion of the incidents. Rohadfox-Ceaser said she wanted to make the public aware of the board’s support for the police.

Rohadfox-Ceaser said violence in schools is an issue and there is a need for police officers in the buildings. Other board members agreed.

“I think we need to recognize the safety of our children and the importance of having the police,” school board member Nancy McCarty said.

The board has the authority to assign officers to city schools. The Syracuse Police Department decided that officers in schools should have the same security weapons as officers patrolling the streets.

All officers assigned to schools trained an extra two weeks to learn how to diffuse certain situations, Commissioner Cynthia Kirby said.

“At the end of the day, fighting even once will never be tolerated in our high schools,” Superintendent Daniel Lowengard said. Lowengard said he plans to visit the high schools in the upcoming weeks to talk about students’ behavior expectations.