Petition Seeks To Return Officer To Harrison High School

HARRISON, NY — A petition on change.org has collected 1,899 signatures calling for Harrison Police Officer Joseph Parello to be returned to his job as resource officer at Harrison High School.

Parello was reassigned after a town councilwoman raised concerns with the police chief over Parello's social media posts, The Journal News wrote in an investigative report.

TJN reported that Lauren Leader was concerned about posts including one that suggested the rioters who invaded the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 were in fact leftists in disguise, a right-wing conspiracy theory, and another that questioned the efficacy of masks to protect against the coronavirus. TJN reporters Mark Lungariello and David Propper obtained the email exchange between Leader and Police Chief John Vasta through New York's Freedom of Information law.

The petition asking for Parello to be reinstated said, "Many students and parents have been touched by the friendship, advice, and mentoring Joe Parrello selflessly offers."

Read the entire article on lohud.com

See the petition at change.org