Dear Friend --

Today, the Long Beach Police Department issued a special order suspending the use of the carotid restraint outlined in our use of force policy.

The Police Department already prohibits the use of “choke holds,” which restrict air flow, as a neck restraint to overcome resistance under any circumstances and has never allowed neck restraint using knees, legs or feet. Effective immediately, the Department is updating its use of force policy language to expressly prohibit all types of “choke holds” and is also immediately suspending the use of the carotid restraint, which restricts blood flow, as an authorized restraint hold. As part of this policy update, the department will gather, review, and evaluate regional data and science associated with the use of the carotid restraint as a control technique.

I want to thank Chief Robert Luna and the department's leadership for taking this important step and the community members who are engaging with us on these reforms.

The Police Department will continue to search for proactive strategies to reduce the overall use of force and identify additional ways to achieve peaceful resolutions to conflict.