Parents, citizens protest for officer's removal

The officer is being investigated after allegations of excessive force.

By Eva Dou

Published Nov. 10, 2008

About 10 parents and community members protested on Monday for the removal of resource officer Mark Brotemarkle from his post at Hickman High School.

Waving signs including "No More Brotemarkle" and "Our Students 1st" outside of the Columbia Police Department headquarters, the demonstrators said they wanted the police to know the community did not stand for Brotemarkle's actions.

Brotemarkle remains posted at Hickman pending an ongoing investigation into whether he had used excessive force to break up a student fight on Oct. 15.

A YouTube video of the fight showed Brotemarkle slamming two girls on the ground and handcuffing them. One of the girls, Hickman sophomore Diamond Thrower, had not been involved in the fight but had been trying to break it up when Brotemarkle grabbed her. She was later taken to the hospital for neck and back problems and was out of school the rest of the week.

Thrower's mentor Ray Magruder was at the protest on Monday. Magruder said that although Brotemarkle had apologized to Thrower, other accountability measures needed to be taken.

"The decision to keep the officer at Hickman was illegitimate and ill-advised," Magruder said.

Nathan Stephens, director of MU's Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center and a parent of two Hickman students, expressed similar sentiments.

"The issue is how can you allow an officer to return to the school when he is currently under investigation," said Stephens, who carried a "Brotemarkle is NOT Our Friend" sign. "This is a blunt statement by the police department of what the expected outcome will be."

In a statement released on Oct. 23, Interim Police Chief Tom Dresner said Brotemarkle was not removed pending investigation because he is one of only eight school resource officers in the district, and his removal would have been too disruptive.

"Both his continued service at Hickman and this investigation can co-exist, in my judgment, based on consideration of all the circumstances," Dresner said in the release.

CPD's Professional Standards Unit must complete the investigation within 35 days, unless there is an extension, according to the department's standard operational guidelines.

Dresner did not immediately return requests for comment.

Demetria Stephens, wife of Nathan Stephens, said she and her family have had several personal run-ins with Brotemarkle. She said he has a history of using excessive force and being "very disrespectful."

Demetria Stephens said that about three years ago Brotemarkle mistakenly identified her son as the suspect who had pushed over an elderly man walking on a track.

"He pulled my son off the basketball court and brought him before the elderly man," she said. "The man said, 'No, sir, this isn't the boy,' but Brotemarkle persisted. He said, 'Yes he is, he matches the description you gave.' And the man said, 'No that is not. Let that young man go.'"

Demetria Stephens said Brotemarkle had also hassled her twice at a Breaktime gas station when she parked in a handicapped spot. Since her handicap is not readily visible, she said Brotemarkle assumed she had falsely obtained a handicapped hangtag.

"He has no right to accuse someone for such a thing," she said.

In both cases, Brotemarkle didn't apologize when he was proven wrong, she said.

In talking with other local residents, she said she has heard stories of Brotemarkle's mistreatment from people of all ages.

"I'm here today to stand up for our children," she said. "Someone has to stand up for them."

Another protest was held Monday evening before the school board meeting at the Columbia Public Schools' Administration Building.