In a letter posted Monday on Facebook, Clark Atlanta Police Chief Debra Williams announced that the police officer who arrested a female student last week for not having her college ID has been placed on leave.
Seeking accountability, students at the Atlanta University Center called for answers last week after the incident.
An Instagram post by a student after the arrest included video showing a uniformed officer, who identifies himself as Corporal Israel, standing outside the door as the instructor brings him a student’s backpack and confirms that the young woman is a student in his class. Students in the comments section called for the officer’s immediate termination.
Williams acknowledged the students’ concerns in the letter and said there would be a “formal review process” so that all the facts are gathered and assessed within accordance with university policy. She then shared that the officer had been placed on administrative leave, citing this as a standard administrative step to ensure a comprehensive and impartial review process.
“We are resolute in our responsibility to address this matter and assure the campus community of our commitment to transparency, accountability, and maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all.”
On Feb. 4, Instagram user @thebrigheststarfire included video of the incident and included the following caption:
“On Black History Month at my Historically Black College… a fellow classmate was arrested in class for not having her #cau ID (her paw card) GO PANTHERS!
let’s be serious, given the societal & cultural landscape this is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE! & i do not feel safe on my campus. i do not trust that CAU PD has student’s best interest at heart.
this is the corporal meaning he is the supervising officer and this is how he conducts his self?
being aggressive, not offering any alternative solutions, not caring that my professor literally verified she was an active student, STILL ARRESTED MY CLASSMATE IN HANDCUFFS IN FRONT OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES!!!”
On Feb. 7, Clark Atlanta President George T. French Jr. released his own letter to the student community addressing the controversy.
“We acknowledge that the student’s refusal to present ID interfered with campus access protocols and contributed to the escalation of the situation,” he wrote. “The University expects all members of our community to comply with Clark Atlanta University Public Safety procedures.”
He then shared his concern over the responding officer’s actions, where he “entered an active instructional space and attempted to make an arrest. This action disrupted the academic environment and, in our assessment, exceeded the appropriate boundaries for law enforcement engagement in instructional settings.”
As a result of the incident, Clark Atlanta will:
- conduct a thorough review of the incident, including campus safety procedures; and
- assess and implement any necessary training or communication measures to prevent recurrences and to protect classroom integrity and student rights.
This story has been updated.
