New York City reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by students who argued NYPD School Safety officers used excessive and inappropriate force.
The lawsuit, which was filed five years ago by the New York Civil Liberties Union, accused the N.Y. School Safety Division of using handcuffs and arresting students for breaking school rules, according to the New York Daily News.
Under the settlement the city will pay $54,000 to the four plaintiffs, including $24,000 to Lameak Williams, who alleged he was beaten by school safety officers and charged with disorderly conduct when he refused to be searched for a cell phone.
The settlement also acknowledged reforms made to the division earlier this month that ensures safety officers will receive training in de-escalation and collaborative problem solving techniques.
The N.Y. School Safety Division employs more than 5,000 school safety agents and more than 200 uniformed police officers throughout the five boroughs of the city. The division has four areas of management, including Patrol Operations, Support Services, Administrative Operations and Investigations.
