Officer is banned from providing substitute teaching after he reenacts the murder of George Floyd in class

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota school district has banned a police officer from working as a substitute teacher after a series of “racially harmful” actions that officials say included putting a student on the floor for a reenactment of the killing of George Floyd in 2020 by a Minneapolis officer.

The employment agency that placed him at Woodbury High School said Wednesday that he also no longer works for them, while the Prescott, Wisconsin, police department has placed him on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

The man was serving as a substitute English teacher Monday when he told students in four separate 10th- and 12th-grade classes that they might want to hear about his life as a police officer, school officials said in a letter to students, families and staff.

In addition to reenacting the actions that led to George Floyd’s death, students also complained that the substitute teacher “repeatedly made racially harmful comments,” “told sexist jokes” and “spoke in disturbing detail about dead bodies he had seen,” said “Cops are supposed to be the best criminals” because “they know how to get away with things,” and “stated that police brutality is not real,” according to the letter.

The letter was signed by the principal of Woodbury High School and the superintendent and assistant superintendent of the South Washington County Schools district. It says the man is now prohibited from setting foot on district property. They also said they reported the incident to the Minnesota Department of Education, the state teacher licensing board and the Woodbury Police Department.

Floyd died after a white officer pressed his neck against the pavement for 9 1/2 minutes, despite the black man’s final pleas: “I can’t breathe.” Children were among the concerned witnesses, including a teenager who shot the video, which was widely viewed on social media. The officer, Derek Chauvin, was convicted of murder.

Floyd’s death sparked protests that sometimes turned violent, testing Gov. Tim Walz’s leadership at one of the state’s most consequential moments and sparking a nationwide reckoning over racial discrimination and police misconduct .

“I specifically want to acknowledge the racial harm that occurred when the substitute teacher reenacted the restraint that resulted in the murder of George Floyd,” wrote principal Sarah Sorenson-Wanger.

“This reported behavior is reprehensible. I am ashamed and sorry that this happened to our students. We will take as much time as students need to listen and create open space for courageous conversations that lead to healing, action, and education. The reported actions are not and will not be tolerated at Woodbury High School or South Washington County Schools,” the principal wrote.

The city of Prescott, Wisconsin, identified him later Wednesday as Patrol Officer Steve Williams, a two-year veteran of the department. He was off duty and in no official capacity, the city said in a statement.

“The City of Prescott and the Prescott Police Department find the current allegations, if true, against Mr. Williams deeply disturbing and reprehensible, and we do not condone his actions in any way,” the statement said.

A Pierce County, Wisconsin, dispatcher said Williams was not working Wednesday and would not take a message for him.

Woodbury is a suburb southeast of St. Paul, and the eastern suburbs of Minneapolis-St. The Paul metro area extends into western Wisconsin, including Prescott.

The replacement was hired through Teachers on Call, a staffing agency that is part of Kelly Education’s national employment network. The company said Williams passed extensive background checks before being placed.

“This individual’s actions were unacceptable and the substitute teacher is no longer an employee of Teachers on Call,” company spokesperson Danielle Nixon said in a statement. “We recognize the great public trust placed in us to ensure that our substitute teachers maintain a safe learning environment. We have a zero tolerance policy for any form of violent, aggressive or harmful behavior.”

Citing the ongoing investigation, she added that Teachers on Call is not releasing any additional information about the former employee.

Woodbury Police Chief Jason Posel said in a statement Wednesday that his department is “troubled by the preliminary information about what occurred” and will investigate this incident to the fullest, while extending compassion to the students affected.

Department of Education spokesperson Anna Kurth said in an email that the state agency has been in contact with the district to offer resources to students, families and staff, but privacy laws would prohibit receipt of a report or investigation cannot confirm or deny. of alleged abuse of minors.

The South Washington County Schools district says it serves approximately 18,700 students at 25 schools in seven communities. It says 37% of students identify as a race other than white.

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