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APS police officer placed on leave for allegedly spraying a freshman with Mace
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An Albuquerque Public Schools police officer has been placed on leave for allegedly spraying a student with Mace and handcuffing him earlier this month.
On Feb. 16, the officer approached a freshman in the courtyard of Rio Grande High School who was 鈥渟creaming obscenities鈥� and asked the student to calm down, according to a district news release.
When the student didn鈥檛 comply, he was sprayed with Mace and handcuffed.
鈥淚 want to personally apologize for the trauma this situation caused,鈥� Superintendent Scott Elder said in the release. 鈥淭he district鈥檚 main focus is the safety and security of all students and staff. It is imperative we meet and support the emotional and physical needs of every student we serve.鈥�
District spokeswoman Monica Armenta said she did not have the officer鈥檚 name, couldn鈥檛 say how long they鈥檇 been with the district police department, and gave no other identifying information on the student.
She also could not say if charges were being filed against the officer. The release said 鈥渇urther action may be taken鈥� if an investigation into the incident finds that the officer鈥檚 treatment of the student doesn鈥檛 align with acceptable restraint practices.
