Breaking down each of OPD’s policy changes


Breaking down each of OPD's policy changes

As the city of Omaha outlines changes to its ‘Use of Force’ policy, KETV Investigates gives you an in-depth look at what each of the changes actually means. The changes include: An officer’s duty to intervene and reportKnee-to-neck pin forbiddenA prone position warningChange to use of carotid restraint control holdWe asked Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer to give a full explanation of each policy change.Step 1: Officer’s Duty to Intervene This change makes it part of an officer’s duty to both intervene and report when another officer uses excessive force or abuses power.Step 2: Knee-to-neck pin forbiddenChief Schmaderer says this has never been a part of OPD’s training, but in light of the George Floyd incident, they’re explicitly banning placing the knee to the neck. Step 3: Prone position warning There are questions on whether this could have saved George Floyd’s life. Under this change, once a suspect on the ground is restrained, officers are to get them into an upright position as soon as possible to prevent ‘positional asphyxia’ where a suspect can’t breathe due to the weight on their back or neck. Step 4: Carotid Restraint Control Hold change Choke holds are already banned for OPD, but officers are permitted to use the Carotid Restraint Control Hold (CRHC). However, under the new change, officers can only use CRHC if attacked by the suspect or in a deadly force scenario. Chief Schmaderer explains the difference between CRCH and a chokehold.

As the city of Omaha outlines changes to its ‘Use of Force’ policy, KETV Investigates gives you an in-depth look at what each of the changes actually means.

The changes include:

  • An officer’s duty to intervene and report
  • Knee-to-neck pin forbidden
  • A prone position warning
  • Change to use of carotid restraint control hold

We asked Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer to give a full explanation of each policy change.

Step 1: Officer’s Duty to Intervene

This change makes it part of an officer’s duty to both intervene and report when another officer uses excessive force or abuses power.

Step 2: Knee-to-neck pin forbidden

Chief Schmaderer says this has never been a part of OPD’s training, but in light of the George Floyd incident, they’re explicitly banning placing the knee to the neck.

Step 3: Prone position warning

There are questions on whether this could have saved George Floyd’s life. Under this change, once a suspect on the ground is restrained, officers are to get them into an upright position as soon as possible to prevent ‘positional asphyxia’ where a suspect can’t breathe due to the weight on their back or neck.

Step 4: Carotid Restraint Control Hold change

Choke holds are already banned for OPD, but officers are permitted to use the Carotid Restraint Control Hold (CRHC). However, under the new change, officers can only use CRHC if attacked by the suspect or in a deadly force scenario. Chief Schmaderer explains the difference between CRCH and a chokehold.


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