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PrintCOLUMBIA — Mark Brotemarkle returned to work as a resource officer at Hickman High School on Monday.
Lynn Barnett, assistant superintendent for the schools, said that the school district left the decision to police.
"We made a recommendation to the police department that we wanted to be cautious about (Brotemarkle's) return, " said Barnett.
The family and a mentor of Hickman student Diamond Thrower met Monday evening with members of the Columbia Police Department to discuss a resolution regarding the treatment of Thrower during a fight that occurred last
Wednesday at the high school. Those in attendance made objections to her
treatment by school resource officers.
Capt. Zim Schwartze; Interim Chief Tom Dresner;
Diamond Thrower; Thrower's sister, LaKisha Houston; Thrower's mother,
Sheila Johnson, and Ray Magruder, Thrower's mentor and spokesperson
for the family, attended the meeting, which began around 5 p.m. on Monday and lasted until
around 6:45, Magruder said.
"I was very pleased at the professionalism and
patience that was displayed yesterday," said Magruder, who did not want to discuss specifics about what happened in the meeting. "I have confidence that this
will be used as a baseline to make the changes and impact the community
overall."
Magruder said it was "way too early" for Brotemarkle to return to Hickman,
especially before the investigation of his actions was complete. He was told the investigation would take four to five weeks.
He said Brotemarkle's presence was "prompting more issues" at the high school, though he did not say what those issues are. Magruder said he sent City Manager Bill Watkins an e-mail about Brotemarkle's return Tuesday but has not heard back from him.
Comments
I watched the Hickman teenagers fight video and noticed that there was a woman trying to hold back Diamond "in the rough" Thrower "me into any good old fight."
The adult supervisor was obviously aware of Diamond's intent to "join in the ruckus" and Diamond obviously broke away from this woman's grasp and disobeyed the adult's wishes.
Doesn't this "family," and those who are trying to avert attention away from the perpetrators, realize that they are coming across as ignorant, arrogant, greedy opportunists who only draw resentment from those who know better? These people are just trying to "game" the system and CPD and Bill Watkins should take a stand in favor of Officer Brotemarkle and the swift way he secured the situation.
This "Thrower" girl should have her "mentor" explain that "good" intentions fueled by impulsive emotions and behavior doesn't always mean that you've made a good choice.
A good mentor should help the kid grow up to understand the "big picture" and not just tell her what she wants to hear. I'm sick and tired of adults who think that babying their little "angel's" ego and "self-esteem" is good parenting. It only creates a "we against the world" scenario and perpetuates distance and animosity.
She chose to "jump into the fight" and that is wrong for any student to do. Stop playing the victim and grow up!
How many teenagers have mentors/family spokesman at Hickman anyways? Is this a new trend to replace dads? (Does Diamond Thrower "me into any good fight" have someone assigned to do her homework while she attends the Hickman fight club over-seen by her own personal trainer? When does she plan to get a publicist? Will there be a book deal?)
Too much emphasis is being placed on Officer Brotemarkle and the consequences faced by the student's in the fight are not being addressed.
Officer Brotemarkle doesn't deserve to be at Hickman any longer. He deserves immediate removal, a medal and a promotion!
Of the names provided in this and other articles, has anyone bothered to run those through Case.net?
Whoops, cat out of the bag . . .
Maybe they should run the parents names through CaseNet.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertain...