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NYPD Finding a Way to Treat Schools with Kid Cuffs
By
Billy Parker
Published Feb 14, 2009
Modified Feb 14, 2009
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By
Billy Parker
Published Feb 14, 2009
Modified Feb 14, 2009
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NYPD has announced that it will launch a pilot program to test out the use of velcro handcuffs to use on students in schools. Spokesman Paul Browne told the Daily News, "We would prefer never to use restraints of any kind, but in those rare instances where it may become necessary, we want a softer alternative to conventional handcuffs." A year ago, a family filed a $15 million lawsuit against the city after 5-year Dennis Rivera was (steel) handcuffed to a chair after allegedly attacking a teacher at PS 81 in Ridgewood, Queens. PS 81 is one of the 22 schools that will be included in the pilot program. Rivera's father said of the program, "They could be made of teddy bear material, but they still would be handcuffs. It is still police tactics on children who have committed no crime." The police say that the softer cuffs would only be used in rare cases where a student (age 15 or younger) needs to be restrained to protect himself or herself, or other children.
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