Kindercuffs: NYPD Ponders Soft Restraints for Kids
Saturday, Feb 14, 2009 | Updated 12:01 PM EDT
WCAU
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Handcuffs may soon become kinder and gentler in New York City -- at least for unruly children.
Police say they are considering using fabric fasteners for wayward youth at public schools.
Police spokesman Paul Browne says the department wants to find a softer alternative to conventional metal handcuffs. The department plans to test Velcro restraints at nearly two dozen schools.
One school that could get Velcro handcuffs under the program is P.S. 81. Parents of a 5-year-old boy named Dennis Rivera say their son was handcuffed on Jan. 17, 2008, by officers at the school.
Dennis Sr. says of the idea of Velcro handcuffs: “They could be made of teddy bear material, but they still would be handcuffs.''
School safety officers are expected to start using the softer restraints next week.
