Public Safety
Governor Bans State Police From Using Chokeholds, Mandates Other Changes for State Police
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Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday announced that he has signed an executive order taking several actions to modernize police strategies and programs in Connecticut amid an ongoing national conversation on accountability and transparency in law enforcement strategies. — an announcement from the Governor’s Office
The governor’s order:
Bans the Connecticut State Police from using chokeholds, strangleholds, arm-bar control holds, lateral vascular neck restraints, carotid restraints, chest compressions, or any other tactics that restrict oxygen or blood flow to the head or neck. Requires the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) to review the Connecticut State Police Administrative and Operations Manual and update it to include the following requirements and prohibitions:
Require troopers to de-escalate situations, when possible, before using force;
Require troopers to provide a verbal warning, when possible, before using deadly force;
Require troopers to exhaust all other reasonable alternatives before resorting to deadly force;
Require troopers to intervene to stop another law enforcement officer from using excessive force, and to report any such use to a supervisor in writing;
Prohibit troopers from shooting at or into moving vehicles unless the occupants of the vehicle pose a deadly threat by means other than the vehicle;
Include a use-of-force matrix; and
Require troopers to report all uses of force, including drawing a firearm on another civilian. Requires DESPP to appoint and train community trust liaisons in each Connecticut State Police Troop and instruct them to assist those troops in building relationships with residents and community-based organizations, learning from those residents and organizations about how to better serve their communities, and making it easier for those residents and organizations to communicate with the State Police. Prohibits DESPP from purchasing or otherwise acquiring military and military-style equipment from the federal government until further notice.