A Georgia high school coach is facing suspension after going hands-on with a female student with a gun in her backpack. Supporters say he saved lives, but the video tells a slightly different story.
Citing a violation of staff policies, the district initially terminated Tri-Cities High School Athletic Director Kenneth Miller, but later reversed course and suspended him in part because of an outcry from parents and the community in support of Coach Miller.
Fox News has the story:
Miller said that on Aug. 20 of last year, the school’s principal called him to her office about reports of students on campus with guns.
“During that process, we located guns. We saved lives,” Miller told Fox 5.
Miller confronted one female student while in the presence of police officers. Miller and the officers were unaware the student, who eyewitnesses described as belligerent and aggressive, had a gun at the time of the confrontation.
The situation escalated when the student hit Miller with a stapler, News 19 reported. Miller then grabbed the girl and restrained her until officers stepped in and took her into custody.
And here’s the video:
It doesn’t seem as though exigent circumstances existed for the coach to go hands-on with the student like he did. That’s almost certainly why disciplinary action began against Coach Miller. On the other hand, his supporters have a point that he deserves credit for a willingness to confront a student who was suspected of being armed. And indeed a gun was found in her backpack, maybe two.
Also from the FoxNews story:
“The district administration does not support Mr. Miller’s actions relating to this event and believes his conduct failed to meet the professional expectations it has for employees. Mr. Miller inappropriately intervened in a student matter being handled by school administrators and law enforcement. Mr. Miller acted outside of the scope of his authority and responsibilities,” Fulton County Schools said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Thursday.
“Mr. Miller’s conduct resulted in an escalation of a physical altercation with a student in crisis, which conflicts with district expectations to deescalate in these types of situations. Mr. Miller has not exhausted his due process rights at this time and remains on full, paid administrative leave.”
Time will tell what happens to the coach. Frankly though, Tri-Cities High School could have a lot worse when it comes to school staff and security officers.