Monday, April 25, 2016
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee police chief has offered an apology after his officers handcuffed and arrested 10 elementary-school students.
Murfreesboro Police Chief Karl Durr told The Tennessean he's "so sorry this incident happened" and that he thinks it could have been avoided.
The comments to the newspaper came after angry parents demanded action during a community meeting at a church after the arrests occurred at Hobgood Elementary School on April 15.
Durr reiterated that an internal review of the incident is ongoing. He said the department would also review its handcuffing policy, which currently says officers should "take into consideration" whether to handcuff children under 12.
Durr said the arrests were connected to a bullying and assault incident. The newspaper reports there are no plans to dismiss the charges.