Home Pittsburg Pittsburg Police Chief Says Principal Whitmire Attempted to Stop Anti-Trump Protest

Pittsburg Police Chief Says Principal Whitmire Attempted to Stop Anti-Trump Protest

by ECT

The following is a press release issued Thursday night by Pittsburg Police Chief Brian Addington on the Pittsburg High School Anti-Donald Trump protest.

According to the Press Release, Chief Addington stated that a total of 9 officers were assigned to the incident–a total of 24-officers combined between Antioch and Pittsburg police departments.

He stated that although his officers did not observe the entire 2-hour demonstration, some Pittsburg officers observed Principal Whitmire waving, laughing and giving the students the “thumbs-up.” These officers saw this from a distance, and reported to me that they cannot provide further context to these actions.

He also stated the School Resource Officer felt Principal Whitmire took an appropriate leadership role and tried to stop the “walk out” saying At no time did this officer see Whitmire encourage the event. He made it clear that any student who left campus would have administrative consequences.

The press release comes a day after Antioch Police Chief Allan Cantando addressed the Pittsburg Unified School District saying the protest was not peaceful and that his officers witnessed Principal Whitmire participate in the anti-Donald Trump protest that resulted in three students being arrested. (click here for Cantando’s comments)

Here is a copy of the release:

As has been widely reported in the recent news and on social media, several hundred students walked out of Pittsburg High School on November 10, 2016.

Shortly before school started, Pittsburg School Resource Officers and school administrators at Pittsburg High School learned that a group of students were organizing an unsanctioned “walk-out” in protest of the results of the recent presidential election.

pittsburg-hs-principal-mark-whitmoreAccording to the School Resource Officer assigned to the High School, Principal Whitmire advised his staff and developed a plan to stop the students from leaving the campus. As school was starting, an estimated 1000 students gathered in the Quad area where Principal Whitmire met and addressed them. The Principal told all the students that they needed to go to class so they were not penalized with an unexcused absence. He further agreed to allow the students the opportunity to speak out, an opportunity to do so during the regularly scheduled school lunchtime. Our officer heard the Principal repeatedly tell the students the administrative consequences that would occur if they left the campus.

Approximately 300 students ignored the Principal’s directions and, shortly after 9am, left the Campus. Additional Pittsburg Officers arrived on scene, to ensure the students safety and monitor the protest. The large crowd of students repeatedly chanted anti-Trump and anti-police slogans and blocked traffic. Principal Whitmire, along with several other school personnel followed the students and repeated encouraged them to return to school. The protest continued for approximately two hours and ended up at Antioch High School. The protest disrupted traffic and resulted in one reported vandalism in Pittsburg.

Pittsburg officers’ primary focus was ensuring student safety, minimizing traffic disruptions, and not allowing criminal behavior. When the student-protesters entered Antioch, Antioch officers joined us in this endeavor. As always, both police agencies worked together seamlessly to ensure the students’ safety and monitor the protest.

At the conclusion of the protest, I had the opportunity to speak directly with Antioch Chief Cantando, and also with PUSD Superintendent Janet Schulze, and I have had several follow-up conversations with both of them.

Chief Cantando spoke yesterday at the PUSD Board meeting and shared his concerns and observations from several of his police officers. Of particular concern was the role Principal Whitmire played in this protest. Chief Cantando mentioned some observations of Pittsburg Police Officers.

I feel an obligation to expand on the observations made during this protest by several Pittsburg Police Officers. It is important to note that Pittsburg Police Officers were not with Principal Whitmire and did not observe all of his actions over this two hour period, but officers did report their observations.

The School Resource Officer at Pittsburg High School felt that Principal Whitmire took an appropriate leadership role and tried to stop the “walk-out” from occurring. At no time did this officer see Whitmire encourage the event. He made it clear that any student who left campus would have administrative consequences.

Nine Pittsburg officers were assigned to monitor this incident, including two Sergeants and a Lieutenant. No Pittsburg Police Officer ever saw Principal Whitmire chanting or pumping his fists in the air. Several officers noted that he continually told students to return to campus and he repeatedly told them to stay out of the street.

Some officers observed Principal Whitmire waving, laughing and giving the students the “thumbs-up.” These officers saw this from a distance, and reported to me that they cannot provide further context to these actions.

I shared these officers observations PUSD Superintendent Janet Schulze. The Pittsburg Police Department has a longstanding and positive relationship with the PUSD. I have complete confidence in their ability to handle this situation appropriately.

Chief Brian Addington
Pittsburg Police Department

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4 comments

Waldo Faldo Nov 17, 2016 - 7:35 pm

Shocker, another Pittsburg Police cover up to protect their own. If they saw this from a distance, then they shouldn’t have even been there to assist Antioch Police. I thank Chief Cantando for his candid account of this incident and its a shame Pittsburg Police is covering up for a activist principal pushing his views on students.

Bill Moon Nov 17, 2016 - 7:42 pm

What a bunch of crap. Pittsburg PD maybe needs to hire a few more observant officers because what these kids did under the leadership of Whitmire is unacceptable. I bet if this had only been in Pittsburg, he would already be on the unemployment line. Shame on Schulze, Addington and the entire school district. Keep your politics out of school and there would not be these types of issues. Shame on all the parents as well who need to learn how to better raise their kids instead of allowing them to be a drain on police services and menaces to society.

Anon Too Nov 17, 2016 - 9:48 pm

I’m not sure that Cantando knows how to keep things honest…I still wonder what they’re trying to hide by encrypting their radios.

Tom Lewis Nov 18, 2016 - 8:33 am

The primary blame for allowing this mass truancy to occur rest squarely on the Pittsburg Police Department. The principal gave them the advance warning in the morning and a line of demarcation should have been drawn on Harbor Street near the school. Any student crossing the line should have been arrested. It is clear the Pittsburg Police failed the community and there is no way they can cover this up. Somebody ordered them to stand down and the buck stops with the police chief. Thank God the Antioch Police and Antioch High School campus security did not stand down.

Julio Nov 18, 2016 - 11:24 am

Strange how this story keeps changing with the Pittsburg gang.

Thank you Chief Cantando.

Lisa Cobiseno Nov 19, 2016 - 1:11 am

After the first walkout for representing the teachers lack of pay the week before, you figured the school would have discussed what to do to prevent another one. The school gets paid for students attending class and the principal and teachers get paid for teaching. Neither should get paid for that day and Pittsburg should have to compensate for the APD officers time.

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