Seattle Police Department updates policy on chokeholds

The Seattle Police Department released an updated “Use of Force” policy Friday, which now prohibits neck holds and carotid restraints.

Neck and carotid holds were previously allowed in situations where deadly force was authorized.

The update surrounding head control now requires a trained technique to be used to control the movement of a subject’s head or neck that does not involve a neck hold or carotid restraint. These kinds of restraints are now prohibited in all circumstances.

Neck restraints include any technique involving the use of an arm or firm object to pally pressure against the windpipe or neck. Carotid restraints are techniques applied to control or disable a subject by applying pressure to the carotid artery, jugular vein, or sides of the neck.

SPD’s use of force policies are all online and can be found here.

Seattle City Council recently passed legislation banning the use of chokeholds and crowd control weapons by police. The Seattle Police Officers Guild, a union representing rank and file officers, had pushed back against both bans on Thursday.

SPOG president Mike Solan said this week that the bills passed by the council should be subject to mandatory bargaining, because they constitute safety concerns for officers.

We have reached out to Solan for a statement on SPD’s updated policy and are awaiting a response.

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