Policeman criticized by some at South Brunswick High as too authoritarian
Matthew Armstrong
Holding signs that read "Cops are here to Protect, But we don’t feel Safe," a group of 10 students walked around the outside of South Brunswick High School Monday chanting "Fascism No, Williams must go!"
The students were among almost two dozen who walked out during school to protest the return of Patrol Officer Scott Williams as the school’s resource officer. There are more than 1,800 students in the school.
"We feel they aren’t considering how we feel about this," said senior Melanie Pasignajen, who helped organize the walkout.
Officer Williams returned Monday to the school after a three-month absence for an incident unrelated to the SRO program. He has been criticized by students and some faculty members as being too authoritative.
His replacement, Patrol Officer Thomas Glapion, has been embraced by the school, some students and staff said. He will remain at the school.
Officer Williams is expected to spend only the next two weeks in the building, according to Police Chief Michael Paquette. He has asked for time off for personal reasons, the chief said. He did not know for how long Officer Williams will be on leave.
Officer Williams opened the year as the school’s first resource officer. The role, which was created by the Police Department in cooperation with the Board of Education, puts officers at work in school buildings in both law enforcement and counseling capacities.
In the fall of 1999, some rumblings of dissatisfaction with Officer Williams surfaced among students. Many felt his authoritative presence made him unapproachable, according to student Michael Cahill, student representative to the school board.
The criticism became more intense after a Nov. 10 incident in which three students were arrested after they resisted Officer Williams’ attempts to escort one of the students to class.
That student pushed Officer Williams, who then arrested him, according to Chief Paquette. Two friends of the student intervened, became involved in a scuffle with school personnel and then ran away. Officer Williams called for backup and identified the two other students to fellow officers when they arrived. The two students resisted arrest and a scuffle ensued.
All three students were charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, rioting, and disorderly conduct. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office concluded that Officer Williams did not act inappropriately during the scuffle. The student accused off pushing the officer, who no longer lives in the township, was sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to fourth-degree rioting and resisting arrest charges. Information about the other two students has not been available from the prosecutor’s office.
Officer Williams remained in the school for another month after the students’ arrests before he was placed on administrative leave for an incident unrelated to his role as school resource officer.
Officer Williams was present during the shooting of a Kendall Park man by a police sergeant. Both he and the other officer were cleared by the prosecutor’s office and he returned to his post Monday.
In the meantime, students and faculty say Officer Glapion has won their trust. Students attempted to persuade the Police Department to allow him to remain at the school.
"All the students love Glapion," said protest organizer Andrew Finn, a senior.
Principal Tom Kietrys said the lower than expected turnout showed him that most of the students that the administration made a decision that was in the best interests of the school in arranging the compromise that would allow both officers to remain as SROs.
"These students are welcome to show how they feel, but they just don’t understand the nature of these things," said Mr. Kietrys. "There’s a give and take to this process. If we were able to set aside the incident on November 10, Williams would be fine here. He made connections with the students, he was in the classrooms and the halls talking with everyone. But Officer Glapion will remain as the school resource officer and will be given every consideration to return to the school next year."
Chief Paquette, however, planned to return Officer Williams to the building. He said it was the department’s responsibility to assign officers.
In response, students gathered more than 500 signatures on petitions and teachers held meetings with school administrators and police to formally request that Officer Glapion be named the high school resource officer.
After a series of meetings between school and police officials during the past weeks, a compromise was reached returning Officer Williams to the school but also keeping Officer Glapion there.
Some students weren’t satisfied and the protest was planned.
"It’s not just about Officer Williams," Andrew said. "It’s the fact that the police have control over what is going on in the school."
He said the Student Council voted against the SRO program in the past, but the police and the school board imposed it anyway.
"Now the police won’t even put in the person that’s beast for the job," he said. "The program is supposed to make us feel better about the cops. Well, this is not helping."
Fliers were circulated around the school Monday morning announcing that students were going to walk out at 9 a.m. The fliers encouraged students to join the walk out. A total of 21 students walked out, some leaving school property, some staying to protest.
"Chief Paquette seems to have all the say in this, and Kietrys seems to be unwilling to put his foot down," said Melanie Pasignajen.
Mr. Kietrys and other administrators stood by calmly as the protesters entered the building quietly. The group made its way through the halls as teachers and students peered at them from within classrooms.
As the class period ended for lunch, students poured out of the classrooms and only the five picket signs stood out in the swarms of students. The protesters went to the cafeteria where they silently showed their resolve to the rest of the students and teachers.
Chief Paquette said Wednesday that Officer Williams has requested time off for various reasons and that he will only be at the school for another two weeks. Officer Williams will be on personal leave for an undetermined amount of time.
"Officer Glapion has not been fully trained for the SRO program and he is still filling in for Officer Williams," said Chief Paquette. "By all accounts, Officer Glapion has done a wonderful job but it is still Officer Williams’ assignment. There is a continuous dialogue going on about how we can improve the program. Scott Williams could decide that he wants to go into a different part of the department and if that happened then we would have to assign a new officer to the high school."
Superintendent Samuel Stewart has said the schools and the police have a good relationship and work well to resolve any issues that arise.
"From the very start of our various partnerships, input from the school officials was sought and evaluated in order to allow the chief of police to make the proper assignment," according to a March 22 statement from the superintendent and the police chief. "This formula has worked very well and our collaborative efforts will continue."