Abington School Board Dir. Under Fire For Police Shooting Remarks

ABINGTON, PA — A member of the Abington School Board has come under fire for recent controversial remarks regarding police-involved shootings.

Tamar Klaiman, a 39-year-old Democrat who has a PhD in public health from Temple University, has drawn national attention for the comments, which were made during a Jan. 21 board meeting while addressing school safety.

"There's a lot of evidence that anyone carrying a firearm in a district building puts kids at risk," Klaiman said during the meeting. "Particularly students of color. We know that black and brown students are much more likely to be shot by police officers, especially school resource officers, than other students. And I have serious concerns about anyone in the buildings having firearms, regardless of whether or not they're police."

The remarks ignited fury from law enforcement groups both locally and around the country, and underscored one of the most sensitive and divisive issues in America today.

"This may be perhaps the most inappropriate and inflammatory statement by a school board member we have seen," the National Fraternal Order of Police said in a statement Tuesday. "Those who push these false narratives are proactively working to destroy the positive relationships we are building with our communities for no reason other than to satisfy an agenda. An officer who would stand between a gunman and someone's child in school deserves more respect than this board member is willing to give."

Klaiman said she apologized to Abington Police Chief Patrick Molloy, and released a public statement addressing the incident.

"I am concerned about having firearms in schools, and the disparate impact of disciplinary actions on students of color," she said. "However, I said something that I deeply regret and for which I would like to like to apologize."

Klaiman added that her concerns about issues of race and the safety people of color feel around police were not meant to be targeted at the Abington Police Department or local school resource officers specifically.

"I am not perfect, and when I make a mistake, I am willing to own up to it and apologize," her statement continues. "Chief Molloy has invited me to learn more about the APD’s work with students, and we discussed developing programs to improve the relationship between students of color and police both within and outside of school. I appreciate his generosity of spirit in forgiving my poorly worded comment, and we both hope to learn from each other."

Law enforcement groups also expressed concern that Klaiman's words would undermine bridges that police had worked to build with local communities.

"I am deeply saddened by this comment made by a Abington school board member," Abington Township Commissioner for Ward 6, Stephen Kalinoski, said in a statement. "We have raised thousands of dollars for the DARE program to remain in Abington to build relationships between police officers and students in Abington. This comment is not okay. Our community policing department is one of the greatest in the country, because of the relationship they have with the School district. Police in Abington don't shoot people all the time. They protect our community."

The Abington Rockledge Democrats agreed, saying "the statements were wrong, period."

However, they also added that the backlash against Klaiman has grown "increasingly dark, unacceptable, and outright vile in some instances," noting threats both sexual and violent. Klaiman has since removed several of her social media profiles, and statements were issued on her behalf through school board president Shameeka Browne.

In addition to her work on the school board, Klaiman is also an adjunct professor of public health and works in research.

The next Abington School Board meeting is set for Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Chief Molloy will be in attendance, and will address the positive relationship the police department has with the school district. The meetings are open to the public.

The Abington School Board meeting can be watched in its entirety here.