Officers, Staff Assaulted In Frightening Fight At Minnesota School

Duluth Public Schools contracts with the Duluth Police Department to have a school resource officer at each of its high schools and middle schools.

According to its website, Duluth Public School resource officers are commissioned Duluth police officers who are required to visit all the school sites to build relationships with students while also being available during emergency situations.

Ultimately, resource officers are there "to support, guide, and mentor students in times of need." If there is trouble at a school involving students, the officers work with school administration on when it is appropriate to issue citations following the student handbook, which lays out discipline guidelines.

Recently, a situation did occur at Duluth Denfeld High School, and although it is an active investigation, it sounds like further disciplinary action will be needed.

Duluth Police Report Troubling Incident At Denfeld High School

According to its post on the Duluth Duluth Police Department Facebook page, a very heated situation developed Tuesday at Denfeld High School, located at 401 N. 44th Avenue West in Duluth.

Authorities say that at approximately noon on Tuesday, November 26, the Duluth Police Denfeld School Resource Officer assisted staff members in separating a physical altercation that occurred between several students.

As a result of this incident, one staff member and two police officers were assaulted and three other staff members suffered effects of a chemical irritant. The altercation forced officers and staff to place the entire school into a brief ‘hold’.

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Once things calmed down one student, a 14-year-old female, was lodged at the Arrowhead Juvenile Center for pending charges of probation violation, and more.

Duluth Police adds that this remains an active and ongoing investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

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While the post didn't mention the name of the resource officer involved, the Duluth Public Schools website lists Officer Chris Simmons as being assigned to Denfeld. He is quoted as saying that he became a resource officer to "provide a safe and positive learning environment for all students."

He also says it's important to build positive relationships with today’s youth and be a mentor so they can be successful in life.