Spokane Standard

In the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May and the riots, protests and unrest that followed, police in Spokane are cutting back on the knee-on-the-neck arrest method that killed Floyd, according to a press release from the city's website.

That technique is to be used only in the most dangerous situations where a suspect continues to resist arrest, according to the press release. 

“You guys saw the training bulletin released last week," Spokane Police Sgt. Jake Jensen said in the press release. "In our department, effective immediately, the application of the knee or shin on the neck is considered an exceptional technique.” 

Investigators believe the knee-on-the-neck restraint was improperly and excessively used on Floyd resulting in his death. Spokane Police do not want to make a similar mistake.

Instead the knee restraint is to be used only where there is no other alternative, where there is a danger to officers. Even then officers are being told to use the tactic only as a temporary measure, according to the press release. 

“Pulling their arm away, maybe swinging at the officer, becoming assaultive," Jensen said in the press release. "At that point, the officer has to transition into what we call a take down. They know various takedowns. And from that takedown, they can put that person in the prone position and then apply the knee to the back appropriately, and apply the handcuffs.” 

Prior to Floyd’s death the knee on the neck was accepted procedure taught by police academies across the country, but now a Spokane officer has to report such an incident and justify the measure taken.