Response To Resistance - Special Considerations

• Omaha Police Department (OPD) policy emphasizes officer awareness of potential subject injury or death after a Use of Force incident.
• Policy mandates reasonable steps to ensure the care and safety of subjects under officers' direct control.

Definitions

• Positional Asphyxia: Mechanical asphyxia from immobilization that impairs breathing, leading to respiratory failure.
• Prone Position: Lying flat with chest/stomach down; increases the risk of positional asphyxia, asthma-related issues, or cardiac events.
• Sudden Arrest Related Death: Subject's death within 24 hours of law enforcement interaction involving force or restraint.

Subject Transportation

• All subject transport must adhere to OPD policies.
• Handcuffing must follow procedures for arrestees and mentally ill subjects.
• Leg restraints (hobbles) can be used on combative subjects with proper training.
• Acceptable hobbles: flexible handcuffs, commercial leg restraints, or nylon rope with a loop.
• Securing legs to fixed vehicle objects or "hog tying" is prohibited due to risk of injury.
• Leg restraint trailing ends must be secured outside the vehicle to prevent entanglement.
• Detained subjects must be constantly attended to and observed.

Sudden Arrest Related Death

• Factors increasing the risk:
  • Blows to the abdomen
  • Significant struggle involving multiple officers
  • Breathing restriction due to body position
  • Pepper spray or chemical agent use
  • Apparent respiratory distress
  • Drug and/or alcohol use
• Detainees should not be left in the prone position while handcuffed.
• Exception: Briefly placing a handcuffed subject in prone to prevent fleeing or fighting until help arrives; remove from prone ASAP.
• Officers are prohibited placing a knee or body weight on a subject’s neck.
• Omaha Fire Department (OFD) will transport at-risk subjects.
  • An OPD officer accompanies to ensure safety and prevent escape, consulting with paramedics on security.
  • Arresting officers should not assist in transport to allow for recovery and report completion if possible.
  • After hospital treatment, OPD officers can transport subjects to Douglas County Department of Corrections (DCDC), unless circumstances require OFD transport.

When a Subject Loses Consciousness

• Immediate medical attention is required for subjects who lose consciousness after any force is used including Vascular Neck Restraint (VNR).
• Transport to a hospital emergency room for medical treatment is mandatory.
  • Provides evidence of proper care and allows assessment by medical personnel.
  • Paramedics cannot offer definitive medical opinions in the field.
  • Officers must inform medical staff if the VNR was used and if it caused unconsciousness.
• Subjects can refuse treatment; document refusal in reports.
• Transportation can be by police vehicle or rescue squad.

Douglas County Department of Corrections (DCDC) Facility

• Arresting officers must notify DCDC staff if a prisoner:
  • Was rendered unconscious during arrest.
  • Received medical treatment prior to detention.
  • Had the VNR applied (conscious or unconscious).
    • VNR subjects who lost consciousness need full medical clearance before DCDC booking.
  • Is subject to factors that heighten the possibility of Sudden Arrest Related Death.

Training covering Omaha Police Department (OPD) policy on subject safety after use of force incidents. It also mandates reasonable steps to ensure care, defines positional asphyxia and prone position risks, and outlines safe subject transportation guidelines.