(WBRZ News 2) Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome held a press conference Thursday morning outlining several new policies for the Baton Rouge Police Department.
On Thursday, Broome stated that her administration had examined the department's use of force policy and agreed upon the following changes that will be implemented immediately:
- Officers are required to give a verbal warning before using deadly force except where there are extingent circumstances.
- Officers are required to de-escalate situations when possible before using force. De-escalation strategies include: disengagement, area containment, waiting out a subject, summoning re-enforcements, calling in specialized units, or other strategies.
- Officers will not employ choke holds are strangleholds except in emergency circumstances where it is immediately necessary to use deadly force and the authorized weapons are inoperable, not accessible or not available.
- Officers are prohibited from discharging a firearm at a moving vehicle unless the vehicle or the passengers pose an immediate deadly threat to others.
- Officers will be required to intervene to prevent another officer from using excessive force and to immediately report they observed the use of excessive force by another officer.
Broome stated that she believes the policy changes will compliment existing training and "enhance the existing BRPD policies." In addition, she said that the policy changes will also serve as a mechanism for accountability.
Broome has been vocal about the need for change in the police department in efforts to better the relationship between the community and police since starting her campaign.