Policy Text
Page 1 of 3 OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
SPECIAL ORDER 9205
TO: Sworn Personnel
SUBJECT : Banning of the Carotid Restraint and All Forms of Asphyxia
DATE : 1 Jan 21
TERMINATION: Upon Revision of DGO K -03, Use of Force
The use of authorized force by police officers, acting as agents of the state, is fundamentally an exercise of governance with the consent of the people. Recent events have changed the nature of the relationship betwe en the public and the government regarding police use of force, especially
surrounding restraints of a person’s neck and asphyxiation – the process of being deprived of
oxygen or suffocated, potentially resulting in unconsciousness or death. The Oakland Police Department believes this policy will save lives and will also promote officer safety, which
furthers OPD’s reverence for life.
It is recognized that certain custodial encounters may require body -to-body contact between
officers and a person . However, the Oakland Police Department does not authorize nor train
officers to utilize “chokeholds,” which obstruct a person’s ability to breathe. The Department no longer teach es or authorizes officers to utilize the carotid restraint hold, which unti l recently was
required training pursuant to California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). OPD’s use of force policies must reflect a reverence for life,
1 require de -escalation,2 mandate a
duty to intervene,3 limit shooting at moving vehicl es,4 and require comprehensive force
reporting.5 OPD recognizes the public and the Police Commission’s call for the immediate end
of the use of hogtying, chokeholds, and any holds intended to cause obstruction to a person’s
airway .
OPD bans and otherwi se immediately eliminate s all holds or other maneuvers which are
designed to, or may foreseeably result in, cutting off blood or oxygen to a person ’s head.
1 “The Oakland Police Department values the protection and sanctity of human life.” DGO K -03 Use of Force , I, A .
2 “Members are required to de- escalate the force when member reasonably believes a lesser level or no further force
is appropriate.” “To the extent possible and without ever compromising safety, members are required to use verbal
commands to accomplish the police objective before resorting to physical force.” Ibid at I, C and III, A, respectively
3 “Members shall intervene and prevent or stop the use of unreasonable force by other members.” Ibid I, C.
4 “Whenever possible, members shall move out of the way of the vehicle, instead of discharging his or her firearm at
the operator.” Ibid IV, E, 2, b .
5 Reference DGO K -04, Reporting and Investigating the Use of Force , and associated Special Orders .
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT Effective Date:
Special Order 9205 1 Jan 21
Page 2 of 3 Special Order 9205 serves as an immediate change to DGO K -03 Use of Force until such time as
the new revised DGO K -03 is adopted.
POLICY
Effective immediately, OPD eliminates the Carotid Restraint as an authorized force option for OPD officers as banned by Government Code 7286.5 and as amended by AB1196. The
Department Gener al Order ( DGO) K-03, Use of Force as approved by the Commission on
October 8, 2020 prohibits the use of the Carotid Restraint and Chokehold. To be clear, OPD
bans all holds or other maneuvers which are designed to, or may foreseeably result in cutting off
blood or oxygen to a person’s head. Hogtying is also specifically banned. While transitory
contact – defined as purposeful body movement from one point to another – between an officer
and a person is allowed, officers shall not sit, kneel, or stand on a person’s chest, back, stomach,
or shoulders, reducing the person’s ability to breathe. Officers may make transitory
contact with
a person’s hips, legs, or lower back and beltline as needed to handcuff, control, or secure, a
person, such as but not limited to, placing the Officer’s full shin across a person’s hips, legs, or lower back or beltline . Officers must position a person to allow for free breathing and not put the
person fa ce down ; to be clear, a prone person shall be placed on their side or in a sitting,
kneeling or standing position as soon as prac tical.
Positional asphyxia occurs when a person’s body position prevents the person from breathing
adequately. A person can b e prevented from breathing adequately when p ressure is placed on
their neck, shoulders, back, or stomach. In order to ensure the safety and to minimize the risk of
positional asphyxia, officers must learn to recognize , evaluate, and mitigate contributing factors
and conditions. O fficers should not believe that if a person is able to talk, that the person is al so
able to breathe; if a person says they cannot breathe, the person is likely in distress.
Officers possess an affirmative obligation to ensure compliance, by themselves and others, with all Department policy, including this Special Order.
6 Officers who observe another officer
violating, or about to violate, this Special Order shall, absent extraordinary