Three day suspension? Too little or too much, it does not matter. The fact that a suspension was issued is very telling, and could be instrumental in the pursuit of a civil action win for R.D.
It is just a little to common for a cop to say I accidentally did this or that, and I thought I did that or this. Nope, the cops version is just a story as is R.D.'s. What will be interesting is the eye witness accounts of the incident. A bunch 3rd/4th graders can have very good, and detailed memories of "traumatic" events.
Though, friend or not, I am told by my mother that I would have likely laughed at the incident when I was at that age.
My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it. - Mark Twain