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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, June 15, 2020

NorCo Policy Prohibits Chokeholds

Chokeholds by Northampton County Deputy Sheriffs or corrections officers are prohibited.

“The Pennsylvania Deputy Sheriff’s academy does not teach chokeholds,” said Sheriff Richard Johnston in response to an internal review of use-of-force policies requested by Executive Lamont McClure. “Our defensive tactics instructors teach the use of pressure points to gain compliance.”

The Sheriff’s policy concerning the use of non-deadly force (Section IV, part E) has been edited and now reads “The use of neck restraint control techniques are prohibited.” Previously, that section read, “The use of neck restraint control techniques are prohibited unless the NCSD member using them has been trained by a certified instructor in this type of force.”

Corrections Officers at the Northampton County Prison are not taught any chokeholds in their training at the academy. Instructors focus on teaching communication skills and pressure point holding techniques through the Integrated Use of Force Model.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is an unfortunate reality. For those who study the grappling-based martial arts, we see this as a real missed opportunity to PREVENT overuse of force. Applied correctly, choke holds that apply pressure to the carotid artery can put someone to sleep in seconds with absolutely no permanent damage. The problem is this: after applying a choke hold for 5-15 seconds, the person goes unconscious. If the choke hold is held for another 10-30 seconds after the person goes unconscious, it can become lethal. Anyone who trains in these methods can feel the SECOND a person goes unconscious, at which point any trained person will simply let go of the choke hold.

I desperately wish that EVERY police officer was required to train in a martial art like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. And I do not mean take a few courses in police academy - a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I mean on-going martial arts training and practice, at least weekly, for the duration of the officers' careers. The benefits of jiu jitsu (which means "the gentle art") are not simply the application of choke holds, but the general ability to calmly and rather easily control larger, stronger, resisting opponents without striking them.

Sadly, these choke holds have been misapplied, led to tragic deaths and major liability for police departments, and have been banned. It is a sad reality because the control techniques and choke holds trained in the grappling martial arts have generally been replaced by punches, kicks, and night stick beatings by officers completely untrained for safe, effective hand-to-hand combat. Most officers simply do not have the skill set or the practice with high-adrenaline situations to handle physical violence. The results are chaotic, violent fights with suspects that sometimes end up needlessly deadly.

I completely understand why these choke holds are banned. They are a very safe and peaceful means of controlling a resisting person IF each officer is well-trained. They are deadly and dangerous if the officer is untrained. The training this requires would save lives and drastically limit the use of force issues we are seeing across the country. This has been studied and observed in police departments that have begun such grappling training on a regular basis. Sadly, this type of life-saving opportunity does not seem to be in the budget.

Anonymous said...

Police Academy's have cut back on firearms training over the years.Definitely no time for self-defense.

Anonymous said...

There is no such thing as a choke hold in policing, it's called a LVNR..Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint...it does NOT effect the trachea or wind pipe/breathing. The vascular neck restraint is a tactic that when trained and deployed correctly, can safely subdue a violent subject that is resisting law enforcement. This restraint shuts blood flow off to the brain and will take down the biggest or strongest suspect safely.

Anonymous said...

@4:39 PM. Very insightful comments. Men and women choosing this profession should be properly trained and maintain decent physical conditioning. Most people I've known enter this profession with noble thoughts along with perhaps a sense of pride in wearing the uniform.The greater their self confidence and skillset,the less their reliance on weapons. Higher minimum standards may also thin out some of the potential "bully cops".
With that being said nothing beats growing up with two parents along with a belief in a Higher Power.

Anonymous said...

5.38
and yet
https://apnews.com/1d11254092294cde89b787494f7bc1b9

"Two Fort Wayne police officers were seriously injured during a training session on the lateral vascular neck restraint, a doctor who evaluated the men said Thursday."
"the LVNR has been banned in many cities, except for lethal or deadly force encounters."

Anonymous said...

Did you read where Tara Zirinski was at a BLM rally in Hellertown and demanded to know where all the other elected officials were in a speech she gave. She was a featured speaker representing white office holders..

Bernie O'Hare said...

I am leery of anything posted anonymously at 4:22 AM. Can you substantiate this by identifying yourself, or refer me to some source like a Facebook video?