Written by Case Timeline
February 9, 2018
On February 9, 2018, Officer Kyle Rooney, serving as a School Resource Officer at Narragansett High School, confronted 11th-grade student Michael Blanchette regarding his presence in the hallway. Blanchette, who had an individualized education plan allowing him to be in the hallway at that time, responded by giving Rooney the middle finger. In response, Rooney forcefully slammed Blanchette to the ground and arrested him, charging him with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Both charges were later dismissed. A federal lawsuit filed by the ACLU alleged that Rooney violated Blanchette’s constitutional rights. In April 2023, the case was settled with the school district agreeing to pay Blanchette $75,000 in damages, without admitting liability. Rooney remains employed as a School Resource Officer at the high school.
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## Officer Forum Links:
– [Kyle Rooney](https://watchaudits.com/forums/topic/kyle-rooney/)