Allen+Police+Officer

=Allen police officers arrested in child discipline case=

media type="youtube" key="ntfmptdF5ZM" width="425" height="350" [|Click here for original website and movie] by STEVE STOLER / WFAA-TV Posted on March 23, 2010 at 9:58 PM //Updated today at 4:58 PM//

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ALLEN — Disciplining a child is one of the most difficult challenges of parenting. But when do parents cross the line in reprimanding their kids? Two married Allen police officers have been placed on leave and face criminal charges after being accused of crossing that line and going too far. Cpl. Melissa Smith is accused of injury to a child resulting from a February incident with her 11-year-old son. “Melissa Smith assaulted her son with a belt, leaving bruising on his buttocks and red marks on his face," said Lt. John Norton of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, which was asked by Allen police to conduct the investigation. Sheriff's investigators say when Smith's husband, Allen police investigator Robert Darin Smith, came home, he also disciplined the boy, who is his stepson. "My understanding is he put the child on the ground, handcuffed him, took him to the police station," Norton said. Investigators said Smith told the boy he was going to arrest him, sat in the parking lot, talked and then brought him back home. The officer is charged with official oppression. “Right now, they are on administrative leave with pay," Allen police spokeswoman Sgt. Nicole Shaw said. "Upon learning of the allegations, they were immediately placed on administrative leave and reassigned." Melissa Smith has been with the department for six years; her husband, Robert Smith, is a 16-year veteran. Texas recognizes the common law rule of parental privilege. Parents can argue they used force against their children as a reasonable method of discipline, but it will likely be up to a judge or jury to decide whether the Smiths went too far. E-mail sstoler@wfaa.com
 * City of Allen Police Department Web site