Aldermen Propose To Ban Law Enforcement From Using Chokeholds
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago Aldermen are considering an ordinance that would ban police and others from using chokeholds to subdue suspects, reports WBBM's Craig Dellimore.
City Council Finance Committee Chairman Edward Burke introduced the ordinance which would not only bar police from using chokeholds but also seeks to cover all peace officers including federal marshals and private security. Burke, a former police officer, says he was taught a chokehold as a rookie.
"I suppose when I trained almost 50 years ago now that a lot of people thought that waterboarding was also an acceptable tactic," Burke said.
Times change he says.
Can the council dictate procedures for other authorities? Maybe not officials say, but co-sponsor Alderman Carrie Austin.
"I believe that it puts our police officers and any other law enforcement on notice," Austin said.
The alderman will hold another hearing before any action.
Chicago Police released a statement saying, "This ordinance would reinforce CPD's existing directives and practices. Chokeholds are not an approved technique for our officers, we already train officers not to use chokeholds, and CPD's directives expressly state that officers will position anyone in a manner that allows free breathing."