Honolulu police suspends vascular neck restraints

HONOLULU — The Honolulu Police Department is temporarily stopping officers from using a type of neck restraint.

Prompted by intense protests across the United States and elsewhere over racial injustice when George Floyd died after a police officer in Minnesota pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes, the Honolulu department began reviewing its use of force policy.

Chief Susan Ballard said Monday she is stopping vascular neck restraints while a committee examines the department’s use of force policy.

“I did make the decision this morning,” she said. “I hesitated because I don’t like taking things away from the officer that may help them out on the road.”

Her announcement comes as police chokeholds are scrutinized around the world. Chokeholds apply pressure from the front and stop the individual from breathing, while carotid holds are from the side.

Ballard said a vascular neck restraint is not a chokehold. It’s a martial arts technique taught to recruits as a last resort option. It was used last year about five times, she said.

It entails an officer using an elbow to put even pressure against the chest and neck, she said.