Using handcuffs on 4th-grader renews focus on role of police in Dayton Public Schools

DAYTON — An incident at a Dayton elementary school that ended with a student in handcuffs has renewed focus on the public school district’s policy regarding discipline and the role of police in school buildings.

DPS spokeswoman Jill Drury said the district’s investigation shows the incident, which occurred at Valerie Elementary in October 2016, involved a fourth-grader who was in emotional distress in a classroom. The teacher and a school security resource officer could not calm the student, according to the investigation.

They escorted all the other students to another classroom, then again worked to calm the student, even using a training technique involving a bear hug.

Drury said when that failed, the student was placed in handcuffs and walked to the office. Once there, the bracelets were removed because the student calmed down quickly.

The district has no specific policy on restraining students, Drury said, but decisions about how to respond to disruptive students is based on the Security Resource Officer’s training. In this case, she said, the SRO is fully certified as a CPI instructor through CPI Incorporated.