Minneapolis Bans Police Chokehold: What Are All the New & Immediate Policy Changes Post George Floyd’s Death

Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) has banned the use of police chokeholds after conducting the voting in the City Council. It has been in wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died when a white police officer – Derek Chauvin was restraining him. There have been other immediate changes in the policy. Let’s have a look at them.

These changes will be implemented immediately. The decision came out unanimously as the council voted 12-0 to enact each of the new changes which were drafted. Now, the city police won’t be allowed to use chokeholds or neck restraints. Jacob Frey, the Mayor of the city, has signed the order. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights suggested all of these changes.

When ex-Minnesota Police officer Chauvin was restraining George Floyd after handcuffing him, he put his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes continuously. It resulted into George Floyd’s death. The incident took place on May 25, 2020, Memorial Day. Now, let’s have a quick look at the new changes the council approved on Friday. (Check: Alexis Ohanian Resigns Reddit.)

New Changes Approved by the Council

• Now, officers won’t be allowed to use chokeholds and neck restraints on civilians for any reason whatsoever.
• Now, any member of the police department (PD), at the scene, will be obliged to report another officer committing an unauthorized use of force that includes neck restraints or chokeholds. If anything such happens they must report to their commander or their commander’s superiors.
• If any member of the PD is present at the scene, and see another officer committing an authorized use of force, then they will have to intervene verbally or physically to stop the other officer. If they neglect to do his duty, then the charges will be pressed against them as if they had engaged in the unauthorized use of force.
• Only when authorized by the Chief of Police or a ranking officer of Deputy Chief or above designed by the chief allows the use of crowd control measures – use of chemical agents, rubber bullets, flash-bangs, batons, and marking rounds, then only they will be utilized and only during protests and demonstrations.
• The Police Chief will have to issue the order of the decision on disciplinary action within 45 days following a recommendation by the City’s Office of Police Conduct Review (OPCR). The same will have to be made public immediately.

Check: Did George Floyd Have A Criminal History?

This story is developing and will be updated.