(Credit: Quakertown Borough Police)
Independent panel says chief, who suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung, acted within policy as felony charges continue to fall away for some teens
A review commissioned by Quakertown Borough has concluded Police Chief Scott McElree acted within department policy during the Feb. 20 confrontation with student protesters, finding his use of force was justified even as fallout from the incident continues to ripple through the community and the courts.
The administrative review, completed by four members of the Police Chiefs’ Association of Bucks County and released by the borough Thursday, according to The Inquirer and 6abc, found officers responded appropriately during what the panel described as a volatile situation that escalated after police moved to detain a student during the anti-ICE walkout.
The report said McElree, who was in plainclothes, was struck multiple times during the struggle and suffered serious injuries, including fractured ribs, a collapsed lung and a lacerated ear. Investigators also concluded that officers showed restraint, saying higher levels of force such as Tasers or chemical spray could have been used but were not.
According to the news agencies, the report directly addressed the most scrutinized moment from the protest: video showing McElree with his arm around a 15-year-old girl’s neck.
The panel said the image did not depict a chokehold and described it as a brief moment during the struggle. But that finding is likely to face continued pushback, per the reports.
Widely circulated video reviewed by media outlets appears to show McElree’s arm around the teen’s neck for several seconds before both fell to the ground, and attorneys for the juveniles have argued police accounts have left out key details about the chief’s use of force, according to reports. One defense attorney has said his client “was a victim, not an aggressor,” while noting the teens did not know at the time that McElree was the police chief.
The review did acknowledge shortcomings in the borough’s response, including that McElree was not clearly identifiable as an officer.
The panel recommended that officers at future demonstrations display visible badges, use body-worn cameras, assign designated arrest teams and have a public communications strategy in place for high-profile incidents, according to 6abc.
Meanwhile, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office continues its own investigation into the police response.
The report lands as the criminal cases against the teens continue to shift.
Five juveniles were arrested after the protest and initially charged with aggravated assault, but attorneys say felony charges have now been withdrawn for at least three of them.
McElree, who has faced months of calls to resign, remains out on workers’ compensation leave.
