ED.....I've got to agree with CD on this one. He might have gone a little too harsh, but Broughton could have avoided the whole situation by acting differently. The cops were wrong, but Broughton was too. Any parent can send their kid to Pullman without fear of tazing as long as they don't break the law. If they are stuck in a position where they are being questioned by the police, even unfairly.....cooperate. Police over-reach is a real problem in our country right now, but in most cases, the victims of abuse by the police had a hand in their own beating by virtue of failing to cooperate. I've dealt with a jack booted thug cop that was just itching to arrest my friend and it didn't take much to talk the guy down. It's sad that civilians have to be the adults in the room sometimes, but that's the world we live in.
Hmmm...Let me pull out two or three very important issues. One, "He might have gone a little too harsh". Yeah, that is a huge problem. What happens if there is a more even keeled approach? Do you think it gets escalated to the point it did? Yes, they have very dangerous jobs, but the officer wasn't in a dangerous position, yet he acted as he was.
2) they are being questioned by the police, even unfairly.....cooperate. You just hit on the major issue...UNFAIRLY. That is the most damning statement.
3) . Police over-reach is a real problem in our country - second most damning thing being said in your well thought out post. And for certain people that doesn't make a town "safer".
Like i said it is a real problem for the town and school.