Jan 8, 2009 4:43 pm US/Central
Strip Search Of Chicago Teens Alleged
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The Chicago Police Department is investigating allegations that an off-duty officer ordered three girls strip searched in December 2007 after a small fire at their high school.
Attorneys for two of the girls say the teens were taken to a washroom at ASPIRA Early College Charter High School by the female officer, who searched under their shirts for a lighter allegedly used by another student to set the fire. They say the officer ordered the girls to drop their pants and underwear. One girl refused.
School officials say they've investigated the allegations and disciplined two administrators and the officer, who was working as a security guard.
The parents filed suit Thursday against the charter operator, ASPIRA, the school principal, the police officer and the board of education.
Lucy and Erica have chosen to withheld their last names in an attempt to protect their daughters' identity.
They said what allegedly happened to their teenage daughters, no child should have to endure.
"She felt violated. She felt ashamed. She was embarrassed," Lucy said.
The parents were even more angered by the fact that they were never called, never notified and never gave permission for the strip search to take place.
"These are minor children and you don't strip search minor children without first talking to the parents, getting consent, and letting the parents decide if they're going to allow that strip search to happen," Attorney Jim Finnerty said.
CBS 2 tried to reach ASPIRA for comment but received no reply. However, sources say the school principal was fired, and the cop dismissed from her job as a school security guard.
Erika's daughter still attends the school, but Lucy's is long gone.
"I picked her up and never went back to that school," Lucy said.
The board of education's investigation sustained the allegations.
Chicago Police Internal Affairs is looking into the charges against the officer.
However, the police just received the complaint last month -- a full year after the incident allegedly occurred.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakely and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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