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BREAKING: School Resource Officers removed from Alexandria City High School after ‘serious complaint’

By James Cullum

(Updated at 12 a.m, Friday, Dec. 17.) The two school resource officers at Alexandria City High School have been removed from their posts and placed on administrative leave after a “serious complaint,” according to the Alexandria Police Department.

“APD takes complaints regarding misconduct seriously and is working diligently to investigate this situation,” the department told ALXnow.

The police and Alexandria City Public Schools have not yet responded to questions regarding the SROs. What is not known is whether the officers will be replaced, who lodged the complaint against the officers and what the complaint alleges.

The Washington Post spoke with sources familiar with the case, who said the matter began after a former student alleged “sexually inappropriate conversations” while she attended ACHS.

“The officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. In order to preserve the integrity of the investigation, the City will not comment further on this matter,” the police said.

ACPS said it was cooperating with the police department, and would not comment further.

“The Alexandria Police Department is conducting the investigation, in order to preserve the integrity of the investigation, Alexandria City Public Schools will not comment further on this matter,” ACPS Chief of School and Community Relations Julia Burgos told ALXnow.

SROs in Alexandria have been a controversial subject, as they were defunded by City Council earlier this year, and then brought back in October after outcry from the school system.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.