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Oakland ad hoc panel endorses categorical ban on carotid restraints, recommends termination on first offense
Summary
An Oakland Police Department discipline-matrix ad hoc panel recommended a formal manual rule prohibiting carotid restraints and chokeholds—citing California Government Code §7286.5 and POST guidance—and agreed that a sustained use should carry termination as the first offense, subject to extremely rare life‑threatening exceptions.
An Oakland Police Department Discipline Matrix ad hoc panel on a virtual meeting recommended adding a clear, categorical ban on carotid restraints and chokeholds to the department’s manual of rules, saying the techniques are already prohibited by state law and POST training guidance.
Captain Brian Hubard read the draft policy and cited California Government Code §7286.5 and the POST curriculum change that removed the techniques from training. Hubard said the prohibition “applies under all circumstances without exception” in the draft language and proposed termination for a sustained application as the first offense.
Deacon Lyle and other panelists pressed on training and practical risks, noting recruits who had never been taught to avoid chokeholds might — through forceful instinct or outside martial‑arts habits — apply them in a struggle. Lyle said that cultural and training factors require clear policy and follow‑up training to prevent inadvertent use.
Kathy Leonard and others emphasized that POST no longer trains chokeholds and that the city policy should mirror state law. Panelists agreed to route the finalized language through the city attorney and stakeholders, with Hubard asking members to review notes before the next meeting.
Next steps: the panel will incorporate the agreed language into the manual-of-rules draft and circulate it for legal and stakeholder review before the next ad hoc meeting.
