School Resource Officer Cleared After Putting Knee On Violent Student’s Back

Brockton, MA – Brockton police announced that an internal investigation had cleared the school resource officer featured in a November video using his knee to pin a student to the ground during an arrest.

The incident occurred on Nov. 17 when a fight erupted in front of Brockton High School and a police officer stepped in to break it up, WHDH reported.

One student had been sitting on a bike talking to another student when he suddenly got off the bike and slugged the other student in the face, according to police.

The officer saw it happen.

Authorities said that when the school resource officer tried to break up the fight, the 16-year-old boy who started the fight resisted, WHDH reported.

Cell phone video posted to social media showed the school resource officer kneeling on the back of a student while he placed the boy in handcuffs.

The video showed that two seconds after the officer secured the handcuffs, he turned the student over and assisted him in getting to his feet.

The student did not appear to be injured in the video.

A #Brockton school resource officer seen kneeling in a student’s neck in cell phone video after a fight breaks out at the high school.

School admin calling his conduct “painful to watch- particularly given its historical context.”@boston25 pic.twitter.com/1wZ2LAxL0M

— Crystal Haynes (@crystalhaynes) November 18, 2021

Brockton Police Chief Manny Gomes announced he had launched an investigation into the officer’s handling of the arrest, WHDH reported.

Brockton Public Schools Superintendent Michael P. Thomas said he had been in touch with the mayor and the police chief about the incident, WHDH reported.

“The video was painful to watch – particularly given its historical context,” Thomas said.

Chief Gomes said the officer was placed on paid administrative leave while the incident was investigation.

On Tuesday, Brockton police announced that an internal investigation had determined that the school resource officer did not break any rules during the student’s arrest, WHDH reported.

“Investigators concluded that the officer acted in accordance with existing laws and department protocols,” the school superintendent said in a statement released on Dec. 27.

Thomas said the terms of the officer’s return to the high school were still under discussion, WHDH reported.