Orlando resource officer being investigated after arresting 6-year-old and 8-year-old
ORLANDO, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - An Orlando school resource officer is being investigated after arresting two elementary school students for separate misdemeanor charges.
Orlando Police Officer Dennis Turner is facing a department investigation after arresting students, ages 6 and 8, without receiving approval from a Watch Commander. Approval is part of the policy when arresting minors under the age of 12.
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The name of the school where the arrests were made has not been released due to the ages of the defendants, said Sgt. David Baker in an email. OPD's spokesperson confirmed that Officer Turner charged each of the children with a misdemeanor in unrelated crimes. Parents were outraged after hearing about the incident.
"I'm an educational psychologist, and I do a lot of work with development psychology, and I'm deeply concerned to hear this. That's very disturbing to me," said Michelle Tichy.
Officials say the 8-year-old was transported to and processed at the Juvenile Assessment Center on Bumby Ave. The child was then released to family members. The 6-year-old was taken to the detention center after being released back to school.
Per department policy, the arrest of any person under the age of 12 requires the approval of the Watch Commander.
"From a developmental psychology standpoint, that's malpractice. You will traumatize a child more than you will benefit a child. I don't know why a school resource officer would consider doing much more than bringing a child to the school principal," said Tichy.
Orlando police would not tell The News Station how long Officer Turner has worked for the department, nor would they tell us how long he's been a school resource officer.
Investigators will not say what the children are charged with, adding that this is at the direction of the department's attorney.