NYCLU Condemns Handcuffing of 11-Year-Old Child by Syracuse Deputies
SYRACUSE – An 11-year-old girl was wrongfully handcuffed Monday in Syracuse by two Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office deputies looking for a person who stole a car. In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union released the following statement attributable to Senior Organizer Victoria Coit:
“The NYCLU is extremely disturbed by the aggressive treatment of an 11-year-old Black child at the hands of Syracuse Sheriff’s deputies, and their failure to notify the child’s parents. There was no reason to handcuff a scared child, one who had simply been making snow angels.
“This mistreatment raises serious concerns about implicit racial bias, which too often leads law enforcement officers to perceive children of color as a threat. It also raises questions about appropriate training and protocols in the Sheriff’s office. The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office must engage the community in dialogue and make further changes with community input.”