1995 federal safety bulletin warned against handcuffing people facedown, but AP investigation reveals ongoing use of prone restraint leading to over 1,000 police-related deaths.
For decades, US police have been warned about the dangers of handcuffing someone facedown, which can restrict breathing and be fatal if officers apply too much pressure or for too long. Despite a 1995 federal safety bulletin recommending officers turn people onto their side after handcuffing, an AP investigation found that some officers still use prone restraint, leading to over 1,000 cases where people died from police force that was not intended to kill. This highlights ongoing failures in police training.
May 14, 2024
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