Boston School Police Will Not Carry Pepper Spray

Superintendent John McDonough says deploying the weapon would 'drive a wedge' between students and officers.
Published: November 7, 2014

Boston Schools Interim Superintendent John McDonough will not be authorizing pepper spray use by district police officers.

He believes arming officers with the spray would “drive a wedge” between students and police, reports the Associated Press.

The school police union had bargained in 2006 to create a plan that would permit officers to carry the spray, reports the Boston Herald. Since then, officers have mistakenly been carrying the weapon, although it hasn’t been used. Since the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, however, officers suggested the weapon could be used to thwart attacks.

Photo: Pepper Ball

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