Parents, Law Enforcement Spar Over Tasers In Schools

10 TV News
December 16, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two mothers have pulled their children out of the South-Western City School District after one of their son’s was shocked with a Taser, but authorities defended the use of such weapons, saying they cut down on injuries to officers and citizens, 10TV’s Andy Hirsch reported on Monday.

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The student was shocked during a fight in the cafeteria at Franklin Heights High School. A surveillance camera recorded the brawl, as well as the school’s resource officer, deploying his Taser on one of the students.

Margie Preston, whose son was shocked, said she was surprised to hear that the Franklin County sheriff’s deputy who served as the school’s resource officer carried the same weapons as officers who patrol the streets.

“I thought, ‘Oh my God,’ if you can’t paddle them at school but you can do something like this,” Preston said. “I think that’s ridiculous.”

Authorities defended the carrying of such weapons in schools.

“Just because it’s a school, especially if it’s a high school, it’s really the same for us as if those two kids were fighting on the street,” said Franklin County Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Oyer.

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This article was posted: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 11:31 am

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