PBA says violence at PHS being mishandled

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Published in the Courier News, Friday, April 6, 2007

'Putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound'
Plainfield police union: Violence at high school is being mishandled

By CHAD HEMENWAY
Staff Writer

PLAINFIELD -- Saying that administrators are "putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound," the president of the city's police officers' union said the district is "downplaying" fighting at the high school.

"It's pretty serious there," said Officer Andre Crawford, president of PBA Local 19. "The situation there is totally out of control."

Crawford's comments come on the heels of reports of a large fight late Wednesday morning at the high school that resulted in the arrests of eight students -- two boys and six girls -- all of whom are juveniles except for 19-year-old Larraine Robinson. Each was charged with disorderly conduct.

Crawford specifically referenced high school Principal Frank Ingargiola and city police chief Edward Santiago, saying he was "disturbed they gave the impression this was no big deal."

"They keep brushing things aside," Crawford said. "There have been numerous fights breaking out, but they don't admit to anything. I'm tired of reading reports which aren't true.

"People's kids are in danger." he added. "It puts officers in a bad position when we keep having to go there."

Crawford said he worries that one day soon an officer will have to use physical force to apprehend students.

Ingargiola, who was in the school at the time and responded to the fight, said initial reports that there were about 20 students involved in a "melee" were false.

Instead, Ingargiola said the many students were merely onlookers.

"It sounded worse than it was," Santiago said, meaning reports that many students had weapons were also false. No weapons were found, he said.

The situation was made worse because of its timing, Santiago said.

The fight occurred outside a packed cafeteria during a period of class changes, leading to a large congregation of spectators, he said.

Santiago said he was surprised when asked to comment on the statements made by Crawford.

"We've had a pretty good working relationship," he said. "I appreciate his concerns but he does not see all the reports to understand what is happening there (at the high school)."

The act that Crawford called a newspaper before [he] contacted him was "another issue to look into," Santiago said.

"He may have stepped over the line," he added.

Late Thursday, Santiago said he had spoken to Crawford and admitted he learned some officers were upset with him because they believed he was downplaying the incident. he said he also agrees with Crawford's worries about police response to the school.

"Any time you need more officers there, it always heightens the risk," Santiago said. "There are always more kids than there are police officers."

He said administrators need to "tighten up" security in the school's hallways. But Santiago disagreed with Crawford's allegations of "brushing things aside."

"That's just not true," he said. "Every incident is investigated fully."

District Superintendent Paul Howard said her "mouth was on the floor" when she heard Crawford's comments because she said none of the high school's resource police officers has said anything to her.

"I can't understand what he (Crawford) is talking about," Howard said. "I can tell you that fight was handled immediately and the entire cabinet (administrators) went in," said Howard, who added some school staff worked until midnight with the Union County Prosecutor's Office and the police department.

Ingargiola said he "doesn't know where he (Crawford) is coming from," because he "doesn't think he has ever been in the building" since Ingargiola has been principal.

"I'm shocked," Ingargiola said of Crawford's comments. "I'd hope we'd have support from the police."

Everyone on Wednesday did exactly what they needed to do to quell the situation and restore order, Ingargiola said.

Ingargiola said Plainfield is no different than most schools who deal with occasional fights among students.

The high school had a half-day of classes scheduled Thursday because today is Good Friday. School will be closed next week for spring break, Ingargiola said. Increased visibility of security and police Thursday made for a "seamless" and uneventful day of school, he said.

Chad Hemenway can be reached at (908) 707-3148 or chemenway@gannett.com

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This story appeared on A1 as the lead story in today's Courier, but was not posted online. It is being posted as a public service.

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