Dupage Policy Journal

The Elmhurst Police Department and Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 are engaged in cross-messaging when it comes to the takedown of a student with Down Syndrome in a York High School bathroom on Dec. 8.

In a Dec 13 statement from Elmhurst Police, made right before the school district’s meeting, police downplayed the incident noting the victim in the video and other boys were “willfully engaging in physical contact.” 

That statement runs counter to that made by Dr. Keisha Campbell over the weekend in which she called out a “deeply disturbing video” of the incident and noted the special needs student had been bullied. 

“Elmhurst Police were advised of an incident at York High School on December 8, 2022 involving a group of students engaged in physical contact in a boy’s student restroom,” the Elmhurst Police Department said in a Dec. 13 statement. 

“Elmhurst Police obtained two cell phone videos that recorded different time segments of the incident. Video footage indicated five students, including a student with special needs, who were willfully engaging in physical contact while other students observed. At one point, the student with special needs was pushed and fell to the ground.” 

“York High School administrators were first alerted to the incident and performed a disciplinary investigation which included contact with the Elmhurst Police Department. The investigation revealed that the student with special needs, who is a member of the wrestling team, engaged in wrestling behavior with four other students, two of which are his teammates on the wrestling team. In the video recording, a student who is not on the wrestling team appears to have pushed the student with special needs after physical contact was made. No students were physically injured during the incident. A female student aid faculty member had escorted the student with special needs to the restroom, and was outside the restroom during the incident. The aid summoned school administrators when she heard unusual activity inside the restroom."

“Elmhurst Police Detectives have contacted the parents of the student that was pushed and the parents have declined a formal police investigation. Both the parents of the student and school administration have decided that this matter would be handled through the school disciplinary process. The Elmhurst Police Department has offered counseling services to the juveniles involved. As this incident involves children, juvenile confidentiality laws prohibit identification of the students involved and specific disciplinary actions completed. Based upon the facts known at this time, the Elmhurst Police Department will respect the family’s decision in the resolution of this matter.”

While the issue was addressed in an email by the school’s principal on Dec. 8, Campbell, followed up with her own statement. 

“The York administrative team learned of an incident regarding students who were bullying another student during school hours. That evening, a deeply disturbing video of the incident began to circulate on social media,” the superintendent said in an email. 

“The video showed an aggressive physical altercation by a student toward another student with a disability, while a group of bystanders watched and laughed. Throughout the day on Friday, students involved in the situation were interviewed and significant school consequences were issued. The investigation has continued throughout the weekend and interviews and tips will continue to be fully examined to ensure a full understanding of all details pertaining to this incident, including the moments before and after what are shown on the video. The Elmhurst Police Department School Resources Officers were notified and have been in contact with the parents of the student who was pushed. Additionally, our administrative team has been working with involved families to ensure emotional and physical safety while also determining potential next steps.”

Local parents spoke out on the videos. 

“This is disturbing. as a mom to a young child in elmhurst i am appalled by this behavior. i hope the district plans on expelling all those involved in the incident,” Elmhurst parent Livabeth Lamm said in response to the video.  

Tracy Hurley, a Naperville resident, did not hold back. 

“This is absolutely disgusting,” she said.

No Elmhurst 205 school board members granted an interview request to discuss the incident. 

The Elmhurst 205 board is comprised of President Kara Caforio, Vice President Christopher Kocinski, Secretary Courtenae Trautmann, Athena Arvanitis, Jim Collins, Beth Hosler and Karen Stuefen.