A video showing a police officer screaming in the face of a five-year-old black school boy before another puts him in handcuffs has been met with outrage.
Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland, US, said the officers remain in their jobs despite the incident in January last year in which they discussed 'beating' the boy.
The release of the disturbing footage on Friday has led to calls for a full independent investigation.
Hundreds of people have signed a letter online calling for those involved to be suspended or fired, according to the Silver Spring Justice Coalition group.
"I watched in horror as what can only be described as a nightmare unfolded for nearly an hour," Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando said in a statement posted to Twitter. "It made me sick."
He added the video demonstrated "systematic failure".
The unnamed boy had run away from teachers before being found in the street near his school by the officers and brought back.
A female officer can be heard telling the child "I hope your momma let me beat you" as he cries, then moving within inches of his face begins screaming for several seconds, mimicking a tantrum.
She is then heard saying: "Oh my God, I'd beat him so bad," before adding: "You do not embarrass me like this at school."
The officers can be heard continually berating the boy, referring to him as a "little beast" and a "violent little thing".
The hour-long footage also shows the child's mother having joined him when a male officer puts him in handcuffs, telling him: "These are for people who don't want to listen and don't know how to act."
The officers are also heard discussing how to discipline the boy to his mother.
She says: "I can't discipline him, because the government won't allow you."
"Yes, you can," the female officer replies.
The mother says: "I spank him, but I can't discipline him how I want to discipline him because of this.
"I'm not losing my child to the system and I'm not going to prison. I just want to show you all he is not being physically abused."
"Who said he was?" the female officer asked.
"We believe it's the exact opposite," the male officer says.
"Yeah, we want you to beat him," the female officer adds.
The bodycam footage was released for the first time last week as the boy's mother is reportedly suing the MCPD.
The police department said it had received a call from a school staff member that a pupil had left school grounds and "did not wish to return".
Two unidentified officers responded and a complaint was subsequently made about their conduct, a statement continued.
It added that an internal probe had now concluded but the findings would remain "confidential".
The open letter, drafted by community organisers, demands the school system review protocols when law enforcement interact with pupils.
"The incident made national news, but over a year later, it has not been fully addressed. This delay in accountability is unjustifiable and unacceptable," it says.
In a statement, Montgomery County school officials said the video is "extremely difficult for us to watch".
“Our heart aches for this student. There is no excuse for adults to ever speak to or threaten a child in this way,” the statement read in part.
“As parents and grandparents, we know that when families send their children to school, they expect that the staff will care for them, keep them safe and use appropriate intervention processes when needed.”
Tiffany Kelly, a Montgomery County Public Schools parent and community activist, said: "This footage makes it clear that officers terrorised this five-year-old child in the place any child should feel safe and protected - at school."
In a statement, Montgomery County school officials said the video is "extremely difficult for us to watch."
“Our heart aches for this student. There is no excuse for adults to ever speak to or threaten a child in this way,” the statement read in part.
“As parents and grandparents, we know that when families send their children to school, they expect that the staff will care for them, keep them safe and use appropriate intervention processes when needed.”
