Parent, Students Cited After Fight At Wauwatosa West High School: Cops

WAUWATOSA, WI — A "secure" was called at Wauwatosa West High School Tuesday morning after a parent tried to physically confront a student inside a vestibule, leading to a physical altercation, according to a message from the school.

A parent had entered the west side parking lot vestibule around 10:20 a.m. and was met by School Resource Officer Farris Griffin, said Wauwatosa West Principal Corey Golla in a message to parents and students. The adult then tried to "physically confront" a student who was leaving the student services office nearby, and a "physical altercation" ensued, Golla wrote. The two were separated as a secure was called, according to Golla.

"SRO Griffin was at school having a conversation with a student regarding continued conflict with other students when the parent of a student with whom there was conflict arrived at school," wrote Wauwatosa Police Sgt. Abby Pavlik in a statement to Patch. "An altercation then occurred between the parent and the student (not related to each other). SRO Griffin separated the parties and both were cited for their actions. An additional student was also cited for disorderly conduct in relation to the altercation."

When a secure is called, students are instructed to return to the inside of the building and do business as usual, according to the district's website. Meanwhile, staff and adults ensure everyone is inside, lock the outside doors and increase situational awareness while continuing business as usual. Despite the secure being called, an announcement incorrectly said the school was in a lockdown; though at no point did the school intend to go into a lockdown, Golla wrote in the message. The secure was lifted after both people involved were off school property, he said.

Golla wrote that citations will be issued to the people involved in the incident, while members of the student services staff are available to give support to anyone affected.

"I am absolutely disgusted with the behavior exhibited today. It is appalling for adults to model this type of behavior for our students, and it is unacceptable that this behavior continues in our school buildings," wrote Golla. "Let me be clear: fighting of any kind is not allowed at Wauwatosa West. Further, bullying, harassment, and disrespectful behavior is prohibited. Rest assured, if you violate our school rules, you will be disciplined severely."

"I will continue to work with our school administrators, dean of students, and student services staff to ensure we are taking appropriate and more severe disciplinary action in an effort to model the consequences of this type of behavior," Golla said.

Tuesday's incident comes after an argument between five students and a parent at Wauwatosa East before a basketball game on Feb. 14 also turned physical, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

This story was updated with additional information from police.