COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio’s attorney general is criticizing a Columbus City Schools principal. This stems from body camera video from Columbus police officers who were called to Ridgeview Middle School to investigate a threat, which was deemed not credible by school officials.
Columbus police body camera video shows the officers, once inside the school, being told they can't go any further, sparking a disagreement between the principal and a police officer.
$300,000 theft at Columbus fire training facility included van, generators, leaf blowerAttorney General Dave Yost made a post on X saying, “No principal in Ohio has the right to keep responding police out of a school building." This post is getting attention on social media.
The exchange between officers and the principal lasted about 12 minutes. It happened on March 17.
On the body camera video, recorded by Columbus police officer Keith Connor, you can hear the school’s secretary say into a radio, ‘Those guests you are expecting have arrived.’
“You have to wait until they come to get you, sir,” the receptionist said.
“I’m here on official police business,” the officer said.
How Gov. DeWine, Ohio parents feel about proposed bill to ban cellphones in schools“I get that, but I just radioed for security and you have to wait until they come to get you, ok? I’m just saying those are the rules I’ve been instructed,” she said.
She tells officers they need to wait for the school security team.
“Okay, we have authority over safety and security, do you understand that,” Connor said. “Columbus police have authority over.”
“You do not have authority over my principal,” the secretary said. “So she tells me that for you guys to wait, you're not the first one to go through this. And I'm not trying to be combative, but he told me to let you know, let him know when you got here. He's coming to get you.”
The woman and police continue to talk back and forth for about four minutes. Then school principal Natalie James enters.
“If we have an emergency at the school, I should not have, I should not have to explain to this woman why I'm here,” Connor said. “I don't come here for my, for party time. I come here on official police business. This is a game we've been playing for years. This is a game we no longer want to play with you. You should be welcoming us. You called us. But if you don't want me here, and if you want me to beg you, get through that door. Don't call me now.”
Will speeding fines in Ohio increase?“Well, I'm not really sure all that happened here,” James said.
“But it's all on recording on body cam,” Connor said.
“Well, okay, but I just came over because I heard some noise going on,” James said. “I heard my secretary having to argue or whatever was going on. What I do now is, and I want to make sure this is on camera, too – we found a lot of disrespect by some of the members of the Columbus Police Department, including yourself.”
The officer said he shouldn’t have to beg to get inside. The principal this didn’t warrant an immediate response.
“Well, then the other caveat to that we've been told from our district is that you, that the police don't, just can't just go all over the building and do whatever you want to do,” James said.
The back-and-forth continues for another five minutes, both suggesting this is not the first time they have disagreed.
Why Ohio leaders aren’t ‘clawing back’ grants after Intel delays“I personally do not feel comfortable even speaking with you, to be quite honest, because of the way that I believe that you do not even have my safety in mind,” James said. “So I'm just making it very clear.”
“And so as an administrator, can I give you my feelings?” Connor said. “You, for some reason, you don't like the police and you want to make things so difficult for us that we don't want to come to your school and listen. I listened to you, did I not?”
“I'm going to pause you because it's not going to be a back-and-forth,” James said. “I don't have any hate towards the police or anything like that. There are some who come over to Ridgeview who are just fine.”
Columbus City Schools sent a statement that reads, “Columbus City Schools and the Columbus Division of Police have reviewed video of the interactions between school staff and a CPD officer at Ridgeview Middle School on March 17, 2025. CCS principals and CPD officers are both trained in de-escalation procedures and serve to treat all Columbus residents with respect, dignity, and fairness. CCS employee relations is reviewing the incident on behalf of CCS, and the Department of the Inspector General is reviewing on behalf of CPD.
“CCS and CPD leaders have regular standing meetings to ensure and promote the safety of students, staff and community members in and around CCS schools. Columbus City Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant reviewed and discussed the video, and will join an upcoming meeting with their combined leadership teams to reinforce their commitments and expectations.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Video shows disagreement between Columbus principal, police officer )
Also on site :