COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus police officer on Tuesday confronted Columbus City Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman after the officer was stopped from entering a middle school in March.
Officer Keith Conner, whose body camera recorded the disagreement, said Chapman has not returned his calls or emails. Conner wanted to talk to the superintendent about protocol.
Power washers save Columbus home from fireIn that video, you may see my frustration," Conner said during public comment period of a Columbus City School Board meeting Tuesday. "It's a culmination of years of dealing with Ridgeview Junior High School. My frustration still continues to this day."
Police officers 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.
Connor said he's been trying to get answers from the superintendent about the district's protocols, but she hasn't responded.
The exchange between officers and the principal lasted about 12 minutes.
Connor said he wasn't at Tuesday's meeting in an official capacity as a Columbus police officer, but there to address what he said was a serious issue.
How Ohio lawmakers want to make schools saferIn the video, the school's secretary can be heard saying, "Those guests you are expecting have arrived," into a radio.
“You have to wait until they come to get you, sir,” the receptionist said.
“I’m here on official police business,” the officer said.
“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...”
‘He means it’: Neighbor called 911 before Columbus police kill suspect“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.”
In the video, Connor and James seem to indicate that this was not the first time there was a disagreement about school access.
At the meeting, Connor said officers who work on his shift believe James is difficult to deal with. He also claimed police often have to respond to calls at the school; records from Columbus City Schools show police have been called to Ridgeview for a disturbance or assault at least eight times this school year.
Connor said he is frustrated.
"Two months later, I have received no direction from Dr. Chapman nor any of the Board of Education of how and what your protocol is in schools dealing with police," Connor said. "I have left three messages with Dr. Chapman to call me. I have not received no response. The Fraternal Order of Police has written her a letter requesting to sit down and discuss protocol. That has not happened, nor has she responded. I think this is a very serious issue, and it's not being handled properly.”
District representatives said they would send a response to Connor's comments, but as of publication, that has not happened.
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