Massachusetts high school officer cleared of wrongdoing in controversial arrest

An investigation into a video showing a Massachusetts school police officer kneeling on a student whilst placing him in handcuffs has concluded that the officer did not do anything wrong, the superintendent announced on Tuesday.

Brockton School District Superintendent Michael Thomas said the investigation was completed by the Brockton Police Department’s Internal Affairs unit.

The video circulated on social media in November and showed a Brockton High School student face-down on the ground with the school officer kneeling on his upper back to restrain him. The student was being arrested for his alleged role in a physical attack on another pupil. The student was charged with assault and battery and released to his parents; police confirmed.

At the time, Thomas called the way the student was restrained “cause for great concern.” In Tuesday’s statement, Thomas said the investigation determined “the officer acted in accordance with existing laws and department protocols.”

The officer’s name was not made public. He had been placed on paid administrative leave. “While the terms of the officer’s return to duty are still being determined, the district’s foundational goal is to maintain a positive learning environment for every student and that remains our primary focus,” Jess Silva-Hodges, a district spokesperson said in the statement.