Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond commented on the firing of South Carolina school resource officer Ben Fields on Friday, saying that, in his opinion, the sheriff of that county acted too hastily.
The officer Hammond was referring to caused a national stir this week after he pulled a young female student from her desk, slammed her to the ground, and arrested her after she was disrespectful and noncompliant with her teacher and officer.
After videos of the incident, taken by other students in the classroom, went viral, the arrest prompted the immediate suspension and ultimately the firing of Fields. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said the officer’s “use of force was unacceptable.”
But Sheriff Hammond said that he would have handled the situation a little differently.
“I think the sheriff was premature. I would have suspended him with pay until the initial investigation was concluded,” he said.
He said that if that investigation revealed something concerning, he would then seek an indictment.
Sheriff Hammond said about the video, “From the very limited view, you do see some pretty rough treatment, but you don’t know what led up to that.”