Students 'patted down' at graduation

Seymour, Conn. (WTNH) - Concerns loom over whether students rights were violated at the Seymour High School graduation when they were 'wanded' and then 'patted down' before entering commencement ceremonies.

An attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union says the action may have been in violation of the 4th Amendment, which guards against unreasonable search and seizures.

Police say the procedure has been the policy at the school since Columbine in 2001 to make sure graduation day is safe.

"Basically the students arrived at the high school and the procedure the board of ed has in place that they have to hand in personal items such as cell phones and some other items that may cause a disruption to the ceremony," said Lt. Paul Satkowski of the Seymour Police Department. "That's what we are trying to avoid, because over the years, there has been some obscene paraphernalia as well as some other items that have disrupted the ceremony so that's what we are trying to prevent."

Both the ACLU and Seymour Police tell News 8 that they did not receive any complaints from parents or students.