New Washington State Legislation Prohibits Neck Restraints

 

Auburn Police demonstrating a neck restraint. 
This guy is talking into a microphone - he can breath
Different from a choke hold, a carotid (neck) restraint does not cut off oxygen but instead puts pressure on the carotid arteries to diminish blood-flow to the brain and where properly deployed will render a subject unconscious in 4-7 seconds. (Internet)

The Washington State Legislature recently passed several bills that impact law enforcement procedures, tactics, and operations across the state. As the Redmond Police Department incorporates these changes, I’d like to share a summary with the community.

Effective July 25, 2021

• House Bill 1054 (Tactics) prohibits using a chokehold OR neck restraint, prohibits military equipment, restricts vehicular pursuits, and prohibits firing a weapon at a moving vehicle. Redmond already prohibits chokeholds (but not neck restraints.) and firing at moving vehicles, and our existing pursuit policy is as restrictive as the new legislation. Redmond’s only military surplus equipment (which is not subject to this bill as it is not armored) is a repurposed Ford F850 box truck (previously a Naval Mobile Dental Services Unit), used by crisis negotiators as a place to coordinate, meet, and communicate with subjects during an on-scene response.

--Redmond Police Chief Darrell Howe

  Edited excerpt from City press release, 7/25/2021