FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Tony Payton, Jr. D-Philadelphia www.pahouse.com/Payton

Payton calls for investigation into Frankford High School beating

HARRISBURG, Dec. 16 – State Rep. Tony Payton, Jr., D-Phila., spoke out against the alleged Oct. 29 beating of Jeffione Thomas at Frankford High School and is supporting demands that the school district conduct a thorough investigation of the incident.

Thomas said he was beaten by two school security officers for seven to ten minutes in which he was later treated for a bruised eye and torn lip that required six stitches. Thomas said he was beaten after arriving late to school that morning and was charged with aggravated assault for striking back at the officers.

"The beating of Jeffione Thomas at the hands of Frankford's security staff is appalling," Payton said. "The school district needs to fire the officers involved immediately. The violence evident here and in other schools throughout the district is inexcusable. There is absolutely no excuse to ever place your hands on a kid."

Payton said that in order to restore trust among students and parents, the school district must launch an independent investigation of the incident to protect students and prevent school violence.

"School employees should be role models for our children," Payton said. "They should be showing students through their own actions that problems can be resolved in a peaceful manner. What happened to Jeffione Thomas is a disgrace and a disservice to every effort to reduce violence in the community."

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