School officer cleared of wrongdoing in Tolman HS incident

December 22, 2015 5:16 pm

By News Staff

news@abc6.com

After a lengthy internal investigation, state and local police have cleared the school resource officer at Tolman High School of any wrongdoing after using force on two students in October.

Officer Jared Boudreault will not face any charges following the incident that was caught on cell phone video of him taking down two juveniles. Police say Boudreault acted reasonably and in keeping with his training when he used a takedown maneuver to arrest the two students.

Rhode Island State Police and the Pawtucket Police Department reviewed video and radio recordings and contacted over two dozen individuals regarding the incident. Officials say the evidence proved that Boudreault was assaulted prior to what was captured on the video.

Investigators also contacted the legal counsel of the two juveniles who were arrested, but say their lawyers declined to produce them for a formal statement.

However, a number of students at Tolman High School said this video simply isn’t right.

"They said that they heard us. Clearly they didn’t,” said Jose Morales, a student and leader of the initial protest outside of the school. "It just goes to show that not everybody gets equal justice. I feel like the police force, anything that has to do with the government. They always have the upper hand."

Following the incident on October 14th, students rallied behind the two students involved, claiming the officer used excessive force.

Even though the school Superintendent in Pawtucket has said Officer Boudreault is not welcome at Tolman, the city’s Public Safety Director, Anthony Pires, said it is possible Boudrealt could return to the job.

"If in fact he decides he wants to go back to the school then we need to work with the students, we need to work with the school department, we need to work with him.." he said.