Teacher Fired for Detaining a Student With a Gun Defends Himself

According to recent reports, a Georgia teacher has been fired after he restrained a student. That student was reportedly armed with a loaded gun.

The incident took place on August 20, 2020, and the Tri-Cities High School teacher and coach was fired as a result. Now, he is publicly defending himself, New19 reports.

Teacher Fired for Detaining a Student With a Gun Defends Himself

According to News19, Kenneth Miller was in police presence when he first confronted the female student. At the time, Miller was unaware that the student was armed with a loaded gun.

As Miller alleges, the student had reportedly turned aggressive at some point in their conversation and she hit him with a stapler. Police bodycam footage confirms Miller’s story and the moment he restrained the student until officers intervened. 

The student was then taken into custody and Miller was also fired for his involvement. What the initial conversation between the teacher and student was about is unclear.

Now, Miller believes he didn’t do anything wrong and while the decision to fire him was revoked, he was then suspended instead. But according to Miller, he is still suspended over six months later. 

 “I only adhered to what Fulton County School Board Policy says you’re allowed to do,” Miller said in a recent interview. He says he was protecting himself within reason.

“Teachers get put in terribly dangerous situations and they have to be supported by the school systems that employ them,” Miller’s lawyer said. “Those teachers are our first line of defense against guns and other types of terrible violence that happens in schools.”

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However, Tri-Cities High School is standing firm in its decision to suspend Miller. “The district administration does not support Mr. Miller’s actions relating to this event and believes his conduct failed to meet the professional expectations it has for employees. Mr. Miller inappropriately intervened in a student matter being handled by school administrators and law enforcement,” the school said in a statement given to News19.

“Mr. Miller acted outside of the scope of his authority and responsibilities. Mr. Miller’s conduct resulted in an escalation of a physical altercation with a student in crisis, which conflicts with district expectations to deescalate in these types of situations. Mr. Miller has not exhausted his due process rights at this time and remains on full, paid administrative leave. The district will not engage Mr. Miller or his attorneys in a public debate on this matter, but instead will allow the facts to drive the outcome of any related decision.”

It has not been made clear when or if Miller’s suspension will be lifted.