By Traci Chapman
Managing Editor
An allegation concerning a September student disciplinary interview at Okarche High School has resulted in a clarification of Okarche Police Department procedures pertaining to those types of incidents.
Police Chief Forrest Smith spoke Nov. 17 concerning his department’s procedures – and the underlying law –in relation to OPD’s interactions with juveniles and how they would change in light of the alleged incident and a subsequent statement made by a student’s father during a public meeting last week.
That parent statement was made during the Nov. 14 meeting of the Town of Okarche Board of Trustees. During the public comment portion of that meeting, Joseph Alig read a written statement concerning an incident he said occurred Sept. 26.
That incident involved Alig’s 14-year-old son, he said; an altercation on an Okarche Public School District bus resulted in district administrators and student resource officer Lt. Kyle Bridges meeting with his son.
THE MEETING
According to Alig, Okarche Superintendent Josh Sumrall, high school principal GW Parham and Lt. Bridges met with his son concerning a “small incident on a school bus between Woodward and Seiling,” allegedly “interrogating him for approximately an hour and a half.” He alleged the three men refused to allow the 14-year-old youth to leave the principal’s office, where the meeting took place.
“It was two administrators and a police officer ganging up on him using intimidation and scare tactics,” Alig said. “They accused my son of an extremely serious and disgusting crime that had no basis.”
Bridges – as one of two student resource officers assigned to the district since the start of the school year – was present during the meeting, at administrators’ request, Chief Smith said.
“This is the extent of his contribution – since we were not investigating a crime nor had any interest in the matter, Lt. Bridges was just present at the request of the school,” the chief said. “We manifested no reports and gathered no information.”
What, if any, disciplinary action was taken against any student by the school was unknown as of press time – district officials were unable to comment about the original incident, alleged meeting or any subsequent related matters because it involved a student.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST OPD
While Alig took aim at Sumrall and Parham in his statement, it was Bridges and Chief Smith to whom he directed much of his ire, demanding the town fire both men or “at least” suspend them. He spoke about alleged unrelated incidents involving Bridges in his previous position and three years ago while working at OPD, employment-related matters town officials could not speak about under state law.
Because Alig’s comments were not on the board’s agenda, trustees could not discuss them during the meeting or risk being in violation of the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act, Town Attorney Bryce Kennedy said.
THE LAW AND DEPARTMENT POLICY CHANGES
Part of the responsibility of school resource officers – or SROs – is to coordinate with school officials to review a wide range of incidents. Among those possible incidents are issues involving students, who may be asked questions by administrators and police officers or requested to give a written statement.
Neither Oklahoma state nor federal laws require that a parent be present during law enforcement questioning of a juvenile – with some specific exclusions that did not appear to pertain to the Alig incident, in a review of Oklahoma Statutes.
Oklahoma law pertaining to juvenile questioning
However, in light of the incident, the department would revise its policy in relation to juvenile interviews whenever possible, Smith said.
“Whenever a parent learns that their minor child has been requested to furnish a written statement or has been asked questions by a police officer concerning an incident at school or otherwise, it can cause a visceral reaction from the parent and the question asked, ‘Why wasn’t I contacted and permitted to participate whenever my child was asked to make a statement or asked questions,’” Smith said. “Okarche Police Department, after consultation with school officials, has determined, except in the case of emergency, police officers will use their good faith and best efforts to contact parents and/or guardians of minors regarding school investigations, including permission to be present, during any questioning or requests for the furnishing of written statements of minors, who may be victims, witnesses or involved in criminal wrongdoing.”
Emergencies would be defined as “situations involving immediate injury to persons or substantial injury or damage to public or personal property or immediate and substantial public or personal loss when the time constraints required for such notice and/or participation would be impractical and increase the likelihood of injury or damage or immediate financial loss,” the chief said.
The change would be formalized and made a part of the department’s police the LEXIPOL policies and procedures that govern the department.
“In addition, the department will follow all applicable statutes, case law and opinions of the Oklahoma Attorney General and respective district attorneys, as they currently exist or may hereinafter be amended,” Smith said.
SRO Chris Sadler will continue his duties without interruption, while Chief Smith will fill in as the district’s second SRO on an as-needed basis until matters are resolved, he said.
