- Oct 17, 2011
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(from a week or so ago)
An assistant football coach and SRO at Northwest High School has been put on paid leave during an investigation of a complaint of “proselytizing” during a football game Friday night that led to his removal from the contest.
Deputy Lawrence “Trey” Campbell was put on leave by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the school resource officers at Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools.
Friday night, Campbell, in his role as an assistant coach on the football team, was removed at halftime of the Vikings game against Davidson Academy by the Northwest principal. By some accounts, Campbell was holding a Bible and leading players in prayer.
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On Tuesday, CMCSS released a statement through spokesman Anthony Johnson with initial information from its investigation into the incident.
“The concerns were not about private prayer or personal religious beliefs. CMCSS fully supports and respects the constitutional rights of all students, employees and visitors to practice their faith, including the right to pray privately,” Johnson said. “However, federal law and the U.S. Constitution place limits on the actions of public employees, including educators, coaches and SROs, when they are acting in their official capacities.
“Beginning the morning of Sept. 5, witnesses observed behavior from Campbell [in his role as SRO] that was inconsistent with those standards and with his normal conduct. At the beginning of the school day, Campbell carried a Bible and told staff he was ‘walking in the Spirit today,’ quoting Scripture about rebuking those who come against you.
“Throughout the day, witnesses reported and video footage corroborated that Campbell carried a Bible with him, spoke with students as they entered the school that morning, in the cafeteria, and other areas of the school while quoting Scripture from the Bible, and he excused a student for being tardy because the student had been with him in the cafeteria, which is an action outside the typical protocol,” Johnson said.
“Later that evening at the football game, multiple witnesses observed and video footage corroborated Campbell spending significant time throughout the game on the sidelines with players and other students, quoting Scripture, holding a Bible up to spectators, and leading prayers. A witness stated that ‘every time I looked and saw him, he was talking to a player or players with the Bible or holding hands with head bowed.’ A cell phone video surfaced that appeared to show Campbell step in front of the student section, leading a ‘faith over fear’ chant.”
However, multiple witnesses stated that when asked to stop causing a disruption and to put his Bible away, Campbell stated loudly that ‘I can’t do it, won’t do it,’ and ‘my job is to save these babies.’ [Actually, it isn't.]
An assistant football coach and SRO at Northwest High School has been put on paid leave during an investigation of a complaint of “proselytizing” during a football game Friday night that led to his removal from the contest.
Deputy Lawrence “Trey” Campbell was put on leave by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the school resource officers at Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools.
Friday night, Campbell, in his role as an assistant coach on the football team, was removed at halftime of the Vikings game against Davidson Academy by the Northwest principal. By some accounts, Campbell was holding a Bible and leading players in prayer.
--
On Tuesday, CMCSS released a statement through spokesman Anthony Johnson with initial information from its investigation into the incident.
“The concerns were not about private prayer or personal religious beliefs. CMCSS fully supports and respects the constitutional rights of all students, employees and visitors to practice their faith, including the right to pray privately,” Johnson said. “However, federal law and the U.S. Constitution place limits on the actions of public employees, including educators, coaches and SROs, when they are acting in their official capacities.
“Beginning the morning of Sept. 5, witnesses observed behavior from Campbell [in his role as SRO] that was inconsistent with those standards and with his normal conduct. At the beginning of the school day, Campbell carried a Bible and told staff he was ‘walking in the Spirit today,’ quoting Scripture about rebuking those who come against you.
“Throughout the day, witnesses reported and video footage corroborated that Campbell carried a Bible with him, spoke with students as they entered the school that morning, in the cafeteria, and other areas of the school while quoting Scripture from the Bible, and he excused a student for being tardy because the student had been with him in the cafeteria, which is an action outside the typical protocol,” Johnson said.
“Later that evening at the football game, multiple witnesses observed and video footage corroborated Campbell spending significant time throughout the game on the sidelines with players and other students, quoting Scripture, holding a Bible up to spectators, and leading prayers. A witness stated that ‘every time I looked and saw him, he was talking to a player or players with the Bible or holding hands with head bowed.’ A cell phone video surfaced that appeared to show Campbell step in front of the student section, leading a ‘faith over fear’ chant.”
However, multiple witnesses stated that when asked to stop causing a disruption and to put his Bible away, Campbell stated loudly that ‘I can’t do it, won’t do it,’ and ‘my job is to save these babies.’ [Actually, it isn't.]
