OAKLAND — Two Fremont High School security guards are on leave with pay after video footage surfaced recently showing them reportedly beating a student in January 2014.
Oakland schools spokesman Troy Flint said the video was uncovered at the request of an attorney representing the student, who likely will file a lawsuit. The video is the second in 2014 showing high school security guards beating students.
Last May, an Oakland High School security guard was caught on videotape beating a handcuffed student in a wheelchair. That security guard was charged with felony corporal injury to a child.
The 17-year-old victim has cerebral palsy and cannot use his legs, according to the criminal complaint filed May 21 by the Alameda County District Attorney.
Flint said all security guards at Oakland schools went through enhanced training last summer after the second beating.
“We had extra training in the summer and now under our new school police chief, we are going to have more rigorous training,” Flint said.
In the recently discovered instance, Flint said video showed a student standing in the doorway to the Fremont High School office. School security guards had been called to the office for an unknown reason, he said.
“One of them pushed the student somewhat aggressively, and they both started jostling the student and he was put in a hold,” Flint said. “At one point, punches were exchanged and the student was struck at least once.”
In a letter sent to Fremont parents, caregivers and staff on Friday, Oakland schools superintendent Antwan Wilson said, “I will not stand for this kind of conduct from adults toward children.”
Wilson said he was angry at the lack of response of adults in the room who failed to act on behalf of the student during and after the incident.
“The video reflects that the security officers initiated contact with the student, escalated the conflict, struck the student, and used an improper technique to try and subdue him,” Wilson said in the letter. “This incident does not reflect our values, or what we’re building here in the Oakland Unified School District. It does underscore how much work remains in order to truly establish schools as caring communities and create the kind of systemic change needed for every child to thrive.”
He said the district will schedule meetings at the school on school culture and staff conduct toward students on Monday.
Flint said the school district has alerted the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County district attorney’s office “to determine if further action is required.”
Flint apologized on behalf of the school district for the guard’s behavior.
“We’re ashamed of what happened, and we need to be very clear it was unacceptable,” Flint said. “We’re not running away from it, and we’re taking steps to improve. We apologize to the student, his family and the whole Oakland community for failing to protect our students.”
Contact Doug Oakley at 925-234-1699. Follow him at Twitter.com/douglasoakley.
