RSO Suspends Use of Carotid Restraint

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has immediately suspended the use of the Carotid Restraint Control Hold, also known as “knee on the neck,” by all Sheriff personnel, as a force option, until further notice.

Carotid restraint led to George Floyd’s death on Memorial Day. On May 25, 2020, Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minn., during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill.

Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down in the street, begging for his life and repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe.”

A second and third officer further restrained Floyd while a fourth prevented bystanders from intervening. During the final three minutes Floyd was motionless and had no pulse while Chauvin ignored onlookers’ pleas to remove his knee, which he did not do until medics told him to.

On Sunday, June 7, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom, directed the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) to remove all use of the Carotid Restraint Control Hold from training. Legislative bill AB 1196, has been introduced to eliminate the ability for California Law Enforcement to use the Carotid Restraint Control Hold, and is currently awaiting a hearing in the California Senate.

California P.O.S.T has notified the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department that any training or use of any type of the Carotid Restraint Control Hold will be done so outside of P.O.S.T certification.

While it is continuing to review its department policies and procedures and to conform with P.O.S.T training standards, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has immediately suspended the use of the Carotid Restraint Control Hold (DSM 300.3.4 Carotid Control Hold) by all Sheriff Personnel, as a force option, until further notice.

The Ben Clark Training Center, which instructs the Basic P.O.S.T Academy as well as in service courses for active Law Enforcement Officers, has also been immediately suspended from instructing the Carotid Restraint Control Hold, until further notice.

If State Legislature eliminates the possibility for peace officers to use the Carotid Restraint Control Hold, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department will update the policy accordingly.