Payne Statement on Attack at Spring Valley High School

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) issued the following statement after Richland County, South Carolina officials announced the termination of Deputy Ben Fields’ employment after he was caught on camera flipping a Spring Valley High School student out of her desk:

“It was difficult to watch the video of Deputy Fields slamming the young girl to the ground and throwing her across the room in front of her classmates. As a father of three high school students, including a teenage daughter, I am disgusted and enraged by what happened. A civil society does not tolerate violence against children, and there is no justification for such a contemptible act. None.

“Richland County officials made the right decision in terminating the employment of Deputy Fields. While the majority of law enforcement do their jobs with dignity and honor, the ones who don’t break down the trust between officers and the communities they serve. As the FBI, Department of Justice, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigate the actions of Deputy Fields for criminal activity, we need to have an honest and meaningful discussion about the problems in law enforcement—one that leads to real change.”