Story 2: In the first year there were lots of fights. One in particular stands out. Two young men (the size and strength of men) were fighting just feet from the faculty lunch table during lunch. I knew both of the combatants from my time on patrol. I first saw it from 100 feet away. No one was intervening. And why would they, this was a serious fight. Not a whole lot of teachers could have done without injury. I approached and began using command voice presence (yelling) to attempt to stop them. This did not work. I then called them by name demanding they stop. By this point I had my ASP (expandable baton) out and extended just in case. They both stopped and looked at me just long enough for me to spout a common set of phases for both control and calming. Something Id been trained to do. Both subjects stopped. I took control of one of them. He was bloody and angry. But I knew him. We talked in the office and I explained many things to him. How his behavior reflected on him, his school, his family. I explained that his biggest crime here was a disruption of school. How his actions strike fear in the other students and some of the teachers. We calmed down and I told him hed have to be held accountable. He was suspended for a few days. Additionally he had to do an intake with JSU. Never had a problem with him again. The other boy, held by administrator received similar treatment. Both boys became young men. In future contact with them, they knew me. They knew I was reasonable. While they fought other officers, I never had to do more than talk and apply handcuffs. During my career I never used my ASP to strike anyone. As an SRO I learned how and what to say.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 15:18:15 +0000