DEPARTMENT: Police Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Briefing on Request to ban the practice of the lateral vascular neck restraint (LVNR) within SAPD
SUMMARY:
Briefing and possible action on the Council Consideration Request (CCR) from Councilmember Andrews Sullivan to ban the practice of the lateral vascular neck restraint (LVNR) within the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD).
This item will also be on the agenda of the Governance Committee meeting on August 24.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On June 17, 2020, Councilwoman Andrews Sullivan submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) requesting to ban the practice of the lateral vascular neck restraint (LVNR) within the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD).
In 2014, SAPD revised its use of force policy in the general manual banning the use of chokeholds, strangleholds, or any other carotid restraints including the use of the LVNR unless deadly force would be justified. Deadly force is authorized only to protect the public or an officer from what is reasonably believed to be an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury.
SAPD policy also mandates that any officer present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is reasonable under the circumstances shall intercede to prevent the use of such excessive force. Officers shall immediately report these observations to a supervisor.
The National Campaign Zero 8CANTWAIT recognizes San Antonio as one of the cities that has banned chokeholds and strangleholds as laid out in the SAPD use of force policy.
Additionally, in an August 2020 Report on Police Reform and Racial Justice, the United States Conference of Mayors makes recommendations about police reform.1 Included in this document are recommendations regarding use of force policy, and it states that officers will ...
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