Abused and neglected children being cared for at a state-run emergency shelter in Oklahoma City have been handcuffed and threatened with pepper spray and stun weapons, The Oklahoman has learned.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has replaced the two off-duty law enforcement officers responsible for the conduct, admitting the armed officers went too far.

“We do not support the use of mechanical restraints with children in the emergency shelters. That is absolutely not appropriate,” DHS spokeswoman Sheree Powell said. “They are no longer working with DHS.”

She also said, “Security staff are not even supposed to intervene unless they are requested to intervene by a supervisor. So part of the problem is the security staff were stepping into situations and acting without necessarily being asked to do that. ... We’ve hired appropriate security personnel. ... They are unarmed. And they will receive the same type of trauma training that our shelter staff currently receive.”