San Ramon Police Chief Bans Sleeper Holds

SAN RAMON, CA — San Ramon Police Chief Craig Stevens announced last week that the department had banned the carotid restraint or "sleeper hold," a chokehold that involves restricting blood flow to a person's brain.

The change comes after many people in the community have suggested changes in accordance with Campaign Zero's 8 Can't Wait campaign, which calls for police departments to commit to eight policies that organizers say can reduce violent interactions, such as requiring police to exhaust all other options before shooting, having a requirement to intervene when other officers are using excessive force, and giving a warning before firing a gun.

San Ramon police continually review and update policies, Stevens said in a letter to the community dated June 12. The department is currently reviewing training practices and is looking to provide staff with additional training.

"I want our community to know that the San Ramon Police Department is always striving to improve, both as individuals and as an organization," he wrote. "With that said, we can never be satisfied with the status quo, and now, more than ever, we need to dedicate ourselves to continuous improvement."

See how the department's use of force policies compare to other 8 Can't Wait initiatives: