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The video of #GeorgeFloyd's arrest was horrific. Officers know (or damn well *should* know) not to keep someone in prone for longer than is necessary to properly secure them.
As my co-authors and I wrote in Evaluating Police Uses of Force:
https://nyupress.org/9781479814657/evaluating-police-uses-of-force/
Brief thread:
As my co-authors and I wrote in Evaluating Police Uses of Force:
https://nyupress.org/9781479814657/evaluating-police-uses-of-force/
Brief thread:
Caveat: the video is incomplete. It picks up after Mr. Floyd is already face down and one ofc is mostly obstructed by the police vehicle. There is almost certainly more relevant information than this video.
With that caveat, the ofcs' actions are still a checklist of mistakes.
With that caveat, the ofcs' actions are still a checklist of mistakes.
#1. One ofc has his shin across Mr. Floyd's neck. That's inconsistent with all police training I'm aware of.
Proper technique would be for the ofc to put his ankle near a subject's trapezius w/the shin across the subject's upper back & knee near/below the opposite shoulder blade.
Proper technique would be for the ofc to put his ankle near a subject's trapezius w/the shin across the subject's upper back & knee near/below the opposite shoulder blade.
It's not unheard of for ofcs to lose their balance or for the knee to come down incorrectly (perhaps bc of the subject's movements), but ofcs should correct their positioning at the earlier opportunity.
That didn't happen.
That didn't happen.
#2. The prone position should be transitory. Laying face down while handcuffed puts a lot of weight on the chest & abdomen, which can make it difficult to draw a full breath. Especially when the subject is obese, frail, or has breathing compromised by OC spray or intoxication.
Short version: don't keep someone in that position for longer than is necessary to properly secure them. After they're secured, roll them onto their side, sit them up, or have them stand.
The bystander's video shows that ofcs kept Mr. Floyd prone for almost **eight** minutes.
The bystander's video shows that ofcs kept Mr. Floyd prone for almost **eight** minutes.
Mr. Floyd stopped verbalizing at ~3:09.
He appeared to be losing consciousness from ~3:09 until ~3:39, with sporadic movements until ~4:03.
At ~4:03, he stops moving entirely.
Ofcs keep him prone, with one ofc's knee across his neck, until ~7:53.
He appeared to be losing consciousness from ~3:09 until ~3:39, with sporadic movements until ~4:03.
At ~4:03, he stops moving entirely.
Ofcs keep him prone, with one ofc's knee across his neck, until ~7:53.
#3. When someone is taken into custody, ofcs are responsible for their well being. That means they have to actively monitor their arrestees.
There was no indication on the video that ofcs did anything to check on Mr. Floyd after he became non-responsive.
There was no indication on the video that ofcs did anything to check on Mr. Floyd after he became non-responsive.
Now it's possible that some monitoring happened off-camera. Maybe the ofc behind the truck was checking his pulse at the wrist.
Even if that's the case, don't keep someone who passed out (after complaining about difficulty breathing) laying down w/weight on them.
Even if that's the case, don't keep someone who passed out (after complaining about difficulty breathing) laying down w/weight on them.
#4. The cover officer should monitor & hopefully calm bystanders. Saying shit like, "This is why you don't do drugs, kids" (~2:27) or "Don't do drugs" (~5:15) is not only not helpful, it's highly likely to exacerbate the situation.
#5. Intervene. When ofcs see another ofc doing something wrong, they need to say or do something about it. It doesn't matter whose scene it is. It could save a life and a career, maybe more than one.
The #NewOrleansPoliceDepartment's EPIC program is worth emulating.
The #NewOrleansPoliceDepartment's EPIC program is worth emulating.
