“Based on what we’ve seen so far, this shouldn’t have happened. Even when we’re asked to make an arrest, common sense should prevail, and discretion used in deciding whether an arrest or handcuffs are really necessary.”—-New York Police spokesman Paul Browne, admitting that it was a mistake it was a mistake to arrest a 12-year-old junior high school student and taking her out of school in handcuffs for doodling her name on her desk in erasable marker. Alexa Gonzalez was scribbling on her desk Monday while waiting for her teacher to pass out homework, and the teacher summoned the police to report a 657…a doodle in progress. The Men in Blue led Alexa out of school in cuffs to a police station across the street, where she was detained for several hours.
Uh, yes, Paul, upon deep reflection, I agree that it is a bit excessive to arrest and handcuff a twelve-year old girl for the heinous crime of doodling on her desk. In fact, his was a game of “who’s the worst child abuser?,” with the police winning a decisive victory.
Still, a teacher called the cops for an unremarkable transgression that warranted an hour or two of detention, tops. “Common sense” is a popular judgment-neutral term to use for the missing character ingredients on display by authority figures in cases like this (and there are more of them than you think: another twelve-year-old was arrested in March for the same offense, Second Degree Desk-doodling) , but the more accurate words for MIA values would be responsibility, proportion, empathy, kindness, moderation, prudence, respect, fairness, compassion and understanding. Where were they? Have any of the teachers who treat students like this been arrested for minor misconduct in school? Do they have any idea what it feels like, or how frightening it is for a child, indeed anyone, to be cuffed and taken into custody by a police officer?
The teacher and the police officers responsible will undoubtedly be given a stern talking to, but they will remain in their posts to terrorize again. The reason these outrageous incidents of student abuse persist and multiply is because of another missing ethical value: accountability.
Ethics Alarms 
WHO ARE THESE TEACHERS???? Every day recently there has been a post of idiocy, sadism, overreaction, and more on the part of these “teachers,” “caregivers,” and presumably “trained” educators of our children.
WHO ARE THESE POLICEMEN? Do they not have a slightly larger charge than to work at the beck and call of moronic teachers?
The teacher should be summarily fired. The policemen demoted.
And I ask again: who will investigate what is apparently non-stop mistreatment of our children in our public school system?????
Well, we demanded that this happen. We demanded that teachers stop disciplining students in class in any meaningful way. Then, the students became out-of-control and dangerous. We demanded that the school put up metal detectors and have dedicated police stations in the schools. Instead of suspending kids for fighting, we now want them arrested. Then this spills over into all other disciplinary areas. The police are there at the school, just waiting to do something.
Until we allow the teachers to enforce order in their classroom and fire the ones who can’t, this will continue. This requires the rest of the parents to support the teachers and administrators when the parent of an unruly child complains.
You might be surprised at what 10 angry and determined parents can get a school to do if they do it together and they are persistent. That is what every school needs.
Leadership is an essential quality for the police. I believe we are called to take moral leadership in our communities, which is a call to higher standards of character.
One of my favorite quote on leadership comes from GEN Norman Schwarzkopf. He said, “Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.” Well said, General!
Sheriff Ray Nash
http://www.PoliceDynamicsMedia.com