BishopAccountability.org
	Police Probe Accusations of Child Abuse at School By Diana Fishlock The Patriot-News November 14, 2008 http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1226630414194470.xml&coll=1 Lower Paxton Twp. police are investigating reports of alleged child abuse involving several eighth-grade students at Holy Name of Jesus School. At least six boys are accused of abusing at least three girls, said Sgt. Gary R. Seefeldt, police spokesman, on Thursday. He said he did not know whether more allegations will come to light. "We don't even know a crime occurred," he said. "It may be misconduct. I don't know yet." No one has been charged, Seefeldt said. "We have just been advised that there is possible child abuse at the school." The principal, Dr. Ann Marie Licata, did not return a reporter's phone message but released a written statement that said, in part: "Respecting the privacy rights of students and their families, the school is not free to comment on the particular discipline circumstances of any student." Lower Paxton police were not called to investigate immediately, Seefeldt said. "The school did not call us. They called Child Line," which is a state child-abuse hot line. The department received information from Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth on Thursday requesting an investigation, which police must complete within a month, Seefeldt said. "I don't have a date for the alleged child abuse or even if it happened on one day or many days," he said. "I cannot say that a crime even took place. The information that I have is too vague for me to know at this time." School officials are encouraged to report alleged incidents to the state child-abuse hot line, said Joe Aponick, spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg. "We let the authorities kind of sort things out then. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, negligence, all those things people are mandated to report by law," Aponick said. School officials must err on the side of caution, Seefeldt said. Aponick said he did not have information on the incident. "The diocese sets policies, but the specific issues are handled at the individual school level," he said. The school, which teaches 407 prekindergarteners through eighth-graders, opened in 1961, Aponick said. Students come from six public school districts, primarily Central Dauphin. DIANA FISHLOCK: 255-8251 or dfishlock@patriot-news.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.