Related video: Dr. Dana Bedden's press conference on the issue
The Richmond County school safety officer fired for roughing up a teenager at a recent football game was accused in two earlier incidents of physically handling students.
James Holmon was cleared in one of the incidents but reprimanded in the other, according to information released Friday from his personnel file at a news conference. Mr. Holmon, who was fired Tuesday for the Sept. 11 incident, has appealed his termination.
The school district also released the video Friday of the incident at the football game between Josey and the Academy of Richmond County at ARC stadium. In it Mr. Holmon tells a crowd of students to leave after the game. He shouts to a crowd "Let's go! ... Game over." School officials have said that at some point, someone uttered "rent-a-cop." Mr. Holmon later approaches a couple of students and asks, "You got something to say, little boy?"
School officials say a 14-year-old, who hasn't been identified because of his age, curses and threatens to punch the officer. Mr. Holmon takes the child to the ground with his hand around his neck for about 15 seconds.
"You ain't about to punch nothing. You understand me? You understand me? I'm not your daddy. I'm not your daddy. Boy, I will kill you right here. I will kill you right ..."
"I can't breathe," the boy responds in the video, captured by a cell-phone shaped camera device attached to Mr. Holmon's uniform, which school safety officers started carrying this school year.
"That's my point. I will kill you right here, boy," Mr. Holmon is overheard saying.
At Friday's media conference, Richmond County Superintendent Dana Bedden said the student's comments to Mr. Holmon were "unacceptable" and should be addressed by the eighth-grader's school, Laney High, which allowed eighth-graders to enter this year with the closing of Tubman Middle School. But, he added, two wrongs don't make a right.
Dr. Bedden called the Sept. 11 situation "an isolated incident" that shouldn't cast a shadow over the school safety department. Based on his tenure and others he has spoken to, Dr. Bedden said, he knows of no other similar incident involving a school safety officer.
The two previous incidents involving Mr. Holmon happened in 2007 and 2008. He was reprimanded for an April 2007 incident in which two students accused him of grabbing their shirts and lifting them off the ground after someone commented about his balding head and called him "Officer Ward."
Mr. Holmon was cleared of a January 2008 allegation in which he was accused of physically restraining and arresting a student and drawing his weapon to break up a large crowd outside a Josey High basketball game. He also was cleared of an accusation of stealing $10 from the arrested student while searching for his ID.
Mr. Holmon is a former Marine, according to his personnel file, and had been with the Richmond County Board of Education as an officer for more than five years in two stints. His employment history shows that he worked for the Richmond County Sheriff's Office from January 1997 to April 2001, the Richmond County school system from April 2001 to March 2004, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center from March 2004 to December 2004, the Richmond County Sheriff's Office again from December 2004 to July 2005, Augusta State University from July 2005 to November 2006, and the Richmond County school system from November 2006 until his firing on Tuesday.
He had certification through the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and had undergone use-of-force and conflict-resolution training. Dr. Bedden said his firing has been reported to the council.
Dr. Bedden said school officers are certified like any other armed officer and often do a lot of good in stressful situations.
"There's a higher standard of expectation that goes with this position. ... They are not rent-a-cops."
Richmond County school safety Lt. Richard Roundtree said that before the Sept. 11 incident, his department had started a new training protocol for officers, having them shadow a senior officer in schools and at games before they're allowed to patrol on their own.
All officers now also must wear the camera devices and must activate them in any adverse situation.
Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-3851 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
As someone who is 100% in support of law enforcement officers and understands the stresses they go through, I must say I am absolutely disguested by the actions of this officer. First, he was unnecessarily rushing a crowd out the gates and by the video footage, everyone was leaving peacefully anyway to include parents and students. Second, once the childish comment was made (inappropriate but not a big deal) the officer immediately becomes confrontational, places his hands on the young man, repeatdly calls him boy and escalates the situation vs. his job of difusing situations. He continues to embarass and ridicule the young man unnecessarily until the young man again responds inappropriately by threatning to punch the officer making the young mans actions clearly wrong. However, the actions of the officer at this point were far worse and the reaction to the comment was way over the top. It is obvious he is out of control when he continues to yell even after other campus police officers have to restrain him. Thank goodness for the rational thinking of Officer Paquette and the other officer who difused the situation and restrained the officer. Most police do well for us.
Well said, Asitisinaug.
I have to admit ASITIS, that by far your 3:44 AM post was the most rational, fair minded and appropriate post, IMHO, that I have read from you.
Appealing his termination? On what grounds? Holman was in the wrong, period. Why was it necessary to hustle the people from the bleachers in the first place? The youngster was only 14 and his conduct wasn't unnecessarily inappropriate--most 14 year olds are mouthy anyway. It appears the officer approached the youngster in a threatening manner that even an adult would respond by saying what some would think as being "inappropriate." Like the lady at the end of the video said: the police abuse is insane. Mr Holman, you have no reason to appeal the loss of your job; it was purely your fault.
I guess Asitisinaug you believe we can talk to these kids and rationalize with them? I don’t agree with the officers actions but I don’t think you can rationalize with them either. For those of you who think you can I challenge you to go to your local high school and just walk around? You won’t have to wait long before you are disrespected. As long as we make excuses for our kid’s actions we will continue to have our officers scrutinized for their every move or quick actions. Could it have been handled different? Yes. But hindsight is 20/20 and we all have ideas now on how this officer should have handled the problem. He could of, he should of will be heard for weeks but to fire an officer over a known bad kid is just adding to the schools problems.
I can't believe the disrespect kids today have for authority figures. When I was a teen in the 70's we would NEVER have dreamed of talking like that to a teacher, any adult and especially to an armed police officer. It is sad that today many parents DO NOT teach their children to have respect for those in position of authority. Now we know why so many younger people are unemployed. It is because they are UNEMPLOYABLE. No education, manners or respect for anyone or anything. Yes, our future does look dim as there is a growing number of those who will forever abuse and live off of the "system" either through welfare programs or the ever increasing prison population.
Officer Holman had a chance to impress the kid and he blew it. Some times a kid is more impressed with a friendly face and a little show of manners than anything else. Why didn't he treat the kid with some respect. Why was he in such a hurry to get everyone out as if there was a fire? Dosen't he know kids how kids walk slow and talk fast after a sports event? The shame of it is, the kid was really acting pretty straight till this thug started pushing and shoving.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but the adult in this situation lost control. Sassy, smart alec kids are out there everywhere and they are going to spout off to impress their peers which is certainly disrespectful, but does not justify the actions of Holman.
As I posted yesterday..the words Yes Sir instead of F*** would have ended everything right there. humbleopinion, your post is good and shows the real problems facing our society today. In only 8 post today look at how many already support the actions of this kid. "the childish comment was made (inappropriate but not a big deal)" - "The youngster was only 14 and his conduct wasn't unnecessarily inappropriate--most 14 year olds are mouthy anyway" - "smart alec kids are out there everywhere"
If that officer would have had my kid on the ground like that i would have kicked him in the throat.Police officers are the dogs of the NEW WORLD ORDER.
Got rid of one who was overzealous but I still cannot believe that the BOE hired Roundtree after his little problem with missing case files etc. Go figure Richmond county politics as usual.
And that big dummy Austin Rhodes by looking at this didnt think the cop went to far.Just goes to show how biased some people are.
I am not supporting the actions of that officer - I am only saying that if the kid had been taught "respect" this officer would not have had the grounds to use this inappropriate action.
If that officer would have had my kid on the ground like that i would have kicked him in the throat.Police officers are the dogs of the NEW WORLD ORDER.
Posted by iluvcollardgreens on Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:49 AM- yes, and your kid was taught "Respect"
Those who would defend authourity against rebellion must not themselves rebel. ~ JRR Tolkien. The cop should indeed lose his job, the kid should NOT get paid. Nuff said.
How can kids be taught respect? By having respectful parents. Too many parents have criminal records etc that kids know about. For those parents to teach and demand respect from their kids is laughable. It's similar to learning about monogamy from Mark Sanford.
All he had to do was to handcuff the kid once he threatened to hit him. Case closed. Once you put your hands one someone, you are committed to take some sort of action. Choking just isn't the action. Mr. Holmon would be better off working in a large jail, but you still can't put your hands on people in there.
another rent a cop gone bad -- dont worry - mcg will hire him - they love rent a cops there.
LOL....where's justus and fruity?....Seems they never comment on these stories unless...........................(jmo)
The guy deserves a medal. What is disgusting is the way these kids talk and act towards other kids, adults, and authority. They see the rappers being stupid and they think they have a right to. Their parents, in a lot of cases are worse than the kids.
iluvcollardgreens, I'd have loved to see you do just that then you could have taken a felony charge, and maybe a bullet or two. leaveitatthedoor, Just shut up. Next time you are at MCG and your car gets broken into or your purse is stolen write your own report. Don't call a "rent-a-cop". Just do it yourself.
My two cents: While I do not condone Ofc. Holman's actions, I appreciate the support from the admin backing their officers in a time like this. People need to realize that these men and women are the real police. You wouldn't dare talk to a deputy like that, why should you get away with talking to any other officer that way? Some of them have chosen to work in the schools because not all teens are bad. Just like police, 10% of the bunch makes them all look bad. I also find it interesting how Ofc. Holman bounced around so often in his police career. Could that have been a sign? I would like to see pre-employment psych tests performed by the local agencies. None of them do it here but most agencies around the country require them. It would weed out these type of officers. One last thing, we can't say race was and issue in this situation because it was a black officer and black teen. The only difference is that one was taught respect and never to back down in the Marines the other was taught no respect and never to listen to adults or authorities.
perusing, I have to agree big time with you on that.Their absence speaks volumes.
What I hope is that the 14 year old learned his lesson as a result of the take down and he turns out to be a productive citizen. I doubt it, because an officer got fired.
Unfortunately, in a couple of years, this kid will be on the metro section of the Chronicle with Mad Max stating (insert standard description). lol.
I cannot believe of all the comments here, you all seem to somehow think this man is imbalanced. I can assure you he is not. He has a love for kids and his job. Yes, he could be working in a prison or for the sheriff or police department, but he chose this occupation instead. Not for the money, but for the impact he could have on a child's life. Why is it up to him to "impress this young man?" He's not their parent ~~ why haven't the 14 y/o parents impressed upon him how important it is to have respect for authority not to mention your elders or people in general. I can all but guarantee if some unknown 14 y/o threatens to "bust you in your face", most of you would attempt to defend yourself against their threat ~~ and the remainder of you would call the law and hope an officer like Ofc. Holman would be the one to respond!!
I have to admit ASITIS, that by far your 3:44 AM post was the most rational, fair minded and appropriate post, IMHO, that I have read from you.
Posted by ispy4u on Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:02 AM
I AGREE. WELL SAID!
Sorry, Msmann, it is his job to foster a good appreciation for law enforcement and his actions by no means did so. NoFrills, yes, I believe you can speak with over 90% of society and rationalize with them and that includes our youth of today. Most are good, they may be seeking attention, or act out but in this situation the officer was given an excellent opportunity to teach the young man and possibly others how to respond. He could have simply called him to the side and had a discussion that calling him a rent a cop was inappropriate and used the opportunity to make a situation better vs. worse. Instead, from the begining, he was unnecessarily rushing the crowd out (the other officers right there were not doing this) and he drew a negative response. No post of mine has stood up for the youth, he did wrong and deserves school punishment and for telling the officer he would hit him, he simply could have been arrested. No amount of conversation will ever justify any police officer taking someone to the ground by their neck and telling them "I will kill you" repeatdly simply because of a comment and to not control yourself once the other officers are trying to stop you is crazy.
Asitisinaug & Msmann. You both post very good valid points. The point I have been trying to put across, Is why do we have to wait 14 years for a youth to be simply called aside and have a discussion that calling him a rent a cop was inappropriate. Why did this cop had to be placed in this situation in the first place. The real fact is the lack of upbringing that has caused this entire issue. The kid and cop were basically not wrong. The wrong rest in the hands of two humans that conceived this kid and forgot about him.
The main point of this is an adult,esp.,a cop should have more control of his temper than this,maybe he had a bad day,still wrong.If he hasn't had a psych review he would need one now,as far as the young man goes if he becomes even more cocky and disrespectful because he got a cop fired,and he is not corrected by his parents,he will need one too.