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Police Cuts May Have Played Role in School Fight

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Safety concerns are prompted after two adults sneaked into a City middle school and attacked a 14-year old girl in her classroom as teachers tried to fight them off.

The incident has sparked outrage amongst parents and city officials.

There was no school police officer at that building at the time of the attack. Union officials say that's because of significant cuts in their force.

School officials say two relatives of a student were buzzed into Vanguard Middle School, claiming they were going to a meeting.

Instead they went up the stairs into a classroom and attacked 14-year Jada Beamon.

"The teacher, she was trying to shield me and protect me," said Beamon.

Now Beamon's mother wants answers about the security lapse that allowed two women to walk into her child's school.

"No school police was on the premises. Where are the monitors?" said Prithilla Peay, Beamon's mother.

School officials tell WJZ the incident is still under investigation.

"We all as parents should be very concerned with the safety of our students," said Sergeant Clyde Boatwright, union president for City School Police.

The force has been cut by 35 officers over the past two years making it harder to protect students.

"We're stretched thin. Our officers report everyday we need manpower, we need manpower. They call the union on a daily basis," said Boatwright.

Vanguard no longer has a permanent officer assigned.

"It's also unacceptable for us to not have protections in the schools for our kids," said Councilman Brandon Scott.

Scott says every middle and high school should have an officer in the building.

"Even if the officer was not able to prevent this from happening, he probably, he or she probably would have at least been able to detain more of the adults," said Scott.

So they can be held accountable for attacking a teenage girl. Family members tell WJZ a student has been arrested in the attack, but the two women have not yet been identified.

In a statement, school officials tells WJZ the investigation into this incident is key because it will provide a thorough assessment of security protocols and determine if changes are warranted.

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