School District May Have Violated Policy In Taser Incident

Independent Report Out

Posted: 9:33 pm CST November 8, 2005Updated: 11:04 pm CST November 8, 2005

An independent report finds inconsistencies about an incident at Madison Memorial High School earlier this year.

The Madison school district may have violated some of its' policies, according to the report.

The incident involved Dalarence Goodwin, then 14, who was arrested at school and later shot by police with a Taser gun.

The independent report by lawyer Eileen Brownlee was posted on the Isthmus Website.

Brownlee was hired by the school district to sift through exactly what happened on Jan. 21 when Goodwin was tasered by Officer Tim Harder.

News 3's Dawn Stevens talked exclusively with Dalarence and his mother when charges of resisting arrest were dropped last month.

Brownlee's report says Harder and the principals gave two different stories about the teen's arrest.

Brownlee's report states, "Officer Harder claims he advised principal Hartman of DG's (Dalarence Goodwin's) arrest… and that he advised Principal Dahmen of the fact he would be transporting DG to the hospital. Neither principal recalls those conversations."

The report also concludes a policy requiring students to be called to the principal's office before their arrest, wasn't met.

Instead, Officer Harder arrested Dalarence in the guidance office, without a principal around.

The report also notes another violation, "No effort was made by the school to contact DG's mother. There does not appear to be any reasonable explanation for this failure."

While questions surround Harder's actions at Memorial, Madison police have cleared him of any wrongdoing.

"Officer Harder's conduct has been deemed to be completely reasonable," said Lt. Brian Ackeret. "He has not violated any Madison Police Department policies."

School officials are not allowed to comment on the case because the American Civil Liberties Union filed a claim against the district on behalf of the Goodwins.

The move is a pre-cursor to a lawsuit.

MMSD spokesman Ken Syke did confirm that police policy does trump school policy generally.

He also added, "The district expects and hopes police will follow school policies."

Goodwin In Court Again

Goodwin, now 15, also made a court appearance Tuesday on another matter.

The teen was arrested Monday for carrying a concealed BB gun after an altercation with police.

Goodwin's mother told News 3 her son is innocent. She plans to fight all the charges.

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