Centennial Teacher Harassed 2 School Children: Police

WARMINSTER, PA —A Centennial school teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation of allegations of his interaction with special needs students, school officials said.

Dennis Cahill, 66, of Yardley, 66, has been cited for harassment by the Upper Southampton Township Police Department for alleged physical violence against two children in the Centennial District in the same week while working as a teacher at Davis Elementary School, court records and police stated.

A police report stated that the allegations involved Cahill hitting a 5-year-old with autism and another where a child was allegedly grabbed by the ears and forcibly moved and yelled at, the Bucks County Courier Times reported.

The newspaper reported that Cahill had been suspended at least three times for using inappropriate physical force against students with autism since 2009, according to records obtained by the police.

Cahill has a hearing scheduled for Jan. 29, a court clerk told Patch Thursday.

"Allegations were made and reported to human resources involving Mr. Cahill and his interaction with special needs students," Schools Superintendent Dana Bedden said.

Bedden said that when allegations are made against a teacher in Pennsylvania, the due process of law must be followed by the school district. Human resources followed the process and procedures and was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation following the appropriate process.

"The safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities, and the school district has been and continues to cooperate fully with law enforcement," Bedden said. "We can confirm that Mr. Cahill remains an employee on administrative leave while the investigation, due process, and other required processes and procedures continue," the superintendent said. "As shared with anyone who has asked, including parents/guardians, the School District won't be able to discuss personnel matters, so we won't comment upon current or prior personnel matters or allegations."