NYPD disproportionately restrains students of color during crises in City schools, agency data shows

NEW YORK — In 2017, a disabled eight-year-old Latino boy was sitting at his school lunch table with other students. These students were playing with a spork and poking each other. The boy, who was being excluded, decided to poke the other children anyway, causing school staff to take it away. The staff became frustrated and called in school safety agents to diffuse the situation.

The agents were unable to calm the child down and instead called the police. NYPD officers came to the school and handcuffed the eight-year-old for a few hours, ripping his pants in the process. Even…