Police Launch Inquiry After H.S. Fight

PHILADELPHIA - There is trouble for a Philadelphia police officer after a high school fight in the Audenreid High School cafeteria.

Sources say what happened next has an officer off the streets and Internal Affairs investigating.

The official word from Philadelphia police department is "no comment on any ongoing internal investigation" and that is routine, reported Fox 29's Joyce Evans.

But sources within the police department, the school district, and security at the South Philadelphia school tell Fox 29 that an officer who responded to the melee two weeks ago was removed from street duty Wednesday.

Sources say the officer, from the 17th Police District, is being investigated for accusations that he shouted a racial slur at the students inside the Audenreid cafeteria on March 13.

Parents who were picking up their students Wednesday responded.

"I think it was wrong for him to do that. You know, whatever the situation may be, whatever happened, it still wasn’t right for him to say what he said, if that’s true. So I think he should be disciplined," says parent Mika Harper.

"Sometimes we say things out of anger. Does it make it right? No. I think he should be disciplined. I think he should be suspended," says parent Tyrone Hayes.

Eight students were arrested for either fighting other students or the police.

Sources say there were complaints from teachers and staff about some of the arrests and the names one officer allegedly shouted at students.

It is also routine to remove an officer from his post during an internal police investigation which, again, officials say is ongoing.

We'll have more information on this developing story as it becomes available.