Palo Alto Advances Police Reforms: Report

PALO ALTO, CA — The Palo Alto City Council on Monday moved to advance police reforms and promote racial justice, Palo Alto Weekly reports.

The council approved a revision of the Police Department’s use of force policy and advanced programs that aim to address systemic racism and police accountability, the report said.

The council voted in support of a ban on chokeholds and a requirement emphasizing police de-escalation during encounters with the public. The measure also included a requirement that police intervene when they witness fellow officers using excessive force, the report said.

Most of the measures followed recommendations issued last month by the city’s Human Relations Commission, the report said.

Some of the measures have already been adopted by the Police Department, including a ban on carotid holds, the report said.

Former public defender Aram James said the council needs to do more to advance its stated goals, according to the report.

"You can tinker with all the policies that you want," James said. "You can change all the policies every six months. The problem is, absent accountability and the ability to swiftly discipline and prosecute officers, this department's officers will not be even disciplined internally."

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