Memphis Police Officer Critically Injured
Pushed off bleachers while stopping fight
By Jody Callahan
December 16, 2005
A Memphis police officer was critically injured Thursday afternoon in an altercation with a student at Fairley High.
About 2:10 p.m., two students began fighting during a Christmas program in the Fairley gym.
Officer Kedzie White, who is stationed at the Whitehaven school, moved to break up the fight, but was pushed off the bleachers, police spokesman Sgt. Vince Higgins said.
White fell -- investigators aren't sure how far -- and hit his head.
The 16-year veteran of the Memphis police was taken to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, where he was stabilized in critical condition.
"We don't know what he struck his head on, but he was rendered unconscious," Higgins said. "Right now, we're just concerned about his condition."
An unidentified 16-year-old Fairley student was taken into custody, but hadn't been charged late Thursday, Higgins said.
The student was treated at Methodist South Hospital for injuries received in the fight, Higgins said.
"Because the incident involved a police officer and there will be an investigation, we don't have a comment," said Vince McCaskill, Memphis City Schools spokesman.
