Critics said police chief escalated incident as DA probe into conduct continues
A recent review clearing Quakertown police in a February protest confrontation is drawing sharp criticism from defense attorneys and an independent investigator, who argue the findings overlook key details and downplay the role of Police Chief Scott McElree in escalating the situation.
The eight-page report, conducted by members of the Police Chiefs’ Association of Bucks County, concluded officers acted within policy during the Feb. 20 clash between police and student protesters.
But attorneys representing the teens charged in the incident called the review biased and incomplete, with one describing it as “self-serving” and inconsistent with available video evidence, according to PhillyBurbs.com.
An investigator hired by the defense said preliminary findings suggest McElree did not clearly identify himself as a police officer before initiating physical contact.
Defense attorneys maintain the students believed McElree, who was in plain clothes, was a counterprotester and acted in self-defense. They also pointed to testimony that the confrontation did not turn physical until after McElree entered the crowd, according to the report. Critics further argued the report failed to address whether the chief’s actions violated county use-of-force standards, particularly regarding techniques that restrict breathing.
The review itself acknowledged shortcomings, including that McElree was not clearly identifiable as an officer, and recommended that plainclothes officers display badges and that only uniformed officers make arrests in similar situations. It also praised officers for showing restraint, noting higher levels of force could have been used but were not.
The case continues to evolve in court, with felony charges already withdrawn for three of the five teens and potentially a fourth. Meanwhile, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office is conducting a separate investigation into police conduct during the protest, though no timeline has been announced.
