Temple 'Extremely Disturbed' By Police Treatment Of Student

PHILADELPHIA — Temple University's President and other school leaders said they are extremely disturbed at the treatment of a student by a Philadelphia Police staff inspector who is now facing charged following a viral video that showed the inspector hitting the student with a metal baton.

Philadelphia Police Staff Inspector Joseph Bologna is being charged with first degree felony aggravated assault, second degree felony aggravated assault, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person.

"We were extremely disturbed by the violent treatment of a Temple student by a Philadelphia Police officer during a recent off-campus protest," Temple officials said in a statement Sunday. "We have reached out to the student and will continue to support him throughout this process."

The charges come after a viral video, which as of Monday morning has 6.8 million views on Twitter alone, showed protesters and Philadelphia Police on the Ben Franklin Parkway.

In the video, one member of the department is seen striking a protester in the head with a metal baton.

The officer was identified as Bologna, who according to reports has a history of scandals and misconduct, and the student as 21-year-old Temple student Evan Gorski.

Gorksi needed about 10 staples and about 10 sutures on his head following the incident, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said.

Temple President Richard M. Englert, Executive Vice President and Provost JoAnne A. Epps, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin G. Clark said in the statement they have gotten calls from students to end the school's ties with Philadelphia Police.

However, officials said doing so would be to the detriment of the school community.