School board supports tasers in schools

Syracuse school board members said Wednesday night they support police officers—including their decisions to use Tasers in recent school confrontations.

 “It’s a decision we made to have police officers in our schools, and one of those conditions is that they have the same weapons they have on the streets,” Vice President Laurie Menkin said. 

 Police used Tasers at city high schools twice in September.  The first time was during a fight between students at Fowler High School.  The following day, a police officer used a Taser on a student who hit him at Nottingham High School.  

Although Superintendent Dan Lowengard and President Kim Rohadfox-Ceaser have spoken to reporters about Tasers in schools, Rohadfox-Ceaser said last night’s board meeting was an opportunity for all board members to address the public.  “It’s important for us to say ‘we stand behind the police officers,’” she said. 

Some parents and civil liberties organizations are concerned police will begin to use Tasers more frequently with less caution, board member Cynthia Kirby said after the meeting.  That is not likely because the Tasers have cameras and board members can review the film, she said.

 “My initial reaction to Tasers in schools was negative,” Lowengard said.  “But now that they’ve been used and I’ve been able to see the video, I think they can actually make bad situations safer.”

 Parents for Public Schools President Susan Fahey said both the school board and the police department are handling the issue properly.  “Honestly, I would rather my son was Tasered than shot.”