2 Pittsburgh Public School police officers injured breaking up fight at Oliver Citywide Academy
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Two police officers were injured trying to break up a fight between multiple students at Oliver Citywide Academy on Thursday, a Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson said.
The fight began in a classroom and spilled out into a hallway and then outside the building, the school official said. At least six students were involved in the fight and other students were at the scene.
School staff called for Pittsburgh police and school officers to help break it up.
Two Pittsburgh Public School police officers were taken to a medical clinic to be checked out for injuries, the school spokesperson said.
The students involved will be disciplined based on the student code of conduct and their education plan, the school official said.
Mayor Ed Gainey released the following statement:
"While we can't comment on the specific incident today at Oliver we can say that incidents like this are one of the reasons why we have been working to build strong connections with Pittsburgh Public Schools in order to create new opportunities for our youth. Earlier this week we launched our new Youth Civic Leadership Academy - a 15-week program where participants will earn 3 college credits, and a stipend, while they learn about local government. We also launched our 'Pathways to Prosperity' work force development initiative with PPS which creates pathways into jobs in nearly every sector of the local economy, and opportunities for paid internships right here at City Hall."
A Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman told KDKA she could not share details about the extent of the officers' injuries and they have no reports of additional staff or student injuries. The spokeswoman said there were no weapons.
The altercation in the school comes just days after students returned to their classrooms on Monday. Students learned remotely after a teacher was allegedly assaulted in a classroom by a 15-year-old student late last month. That student is facing charges.
After that alleged assault, the school increased safety efforts by adding an extra security guard in the building and two-way radios in all classrooms.
The president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers did not have a comment to share about the incident at this time.
Oliver Citywide is a full-time special education school for students who need behavioral support.
