SAUSD Police Chief Rodriguez defends the school cop who roughed up a kid

SAUSD School Police Statement 04-11-14 from sausdnews on Vimeo.

SAUSD School Police Chief Hector Rodriguez spoke this afternoon at a press conference regarding the latest in the investigation of a Santa Ana Police School Officer and the arrest of a 14-year old male.

Predictably Rodriguez said he was still investigating the incident – but then he blamed the young man for resisting arrest.

Rodriguez said several times that his department is about “helping kids.”  He said his officers are “respectful” and treat people with “dignity.”

Rodriguez did not mention the fact that the school cop in question was clearly caught on video being something other than “respectful” and “dignified.”

I can’t imagine that this incident will be fairly investigated by Rodriguez. The mother of the young man in question should lawyer up and make sure that the SAUSD pays for the extreme and excessive use of force by the school cop, as caught on video and seen by multiple bystanders.

And we are still waiting to hear from our elected SAUSD School Board Members.  Only one of them, John Palacio, has spoken to the press and none of them appear to be standing up for the young man in question.  You know what that means – the SAUSD is running the show and these elected officials are getting paid for NOTHING.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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