Police change orders to fit new law

NEW CANAAN — Town police are codifying regulations that limit use of force and stipulate that officers intervene when another member of the department uses excessive measures.

Capt. Andrew Walsh explained the changes, which are needed to meet the standards of the state’s new police accountability bill, to the Police Commission on Wednesday night.

Sections define when deadly force can be used, which Walsh said is “almost verbatim” to the new law; bans use of a chokeholds or other techniques that restrict the flow of oxygen to the brain, except in cases in which deadly force is justified; requires officers to administer first aid as quickly as possible to a person injured by an officer’s actions; and imposes a duty to intervene on officers who witness excessive force.

The new law requires police try to de-escalate the situation before using force, raising a question from the commission about how a suspect attacking an officer should be handled.

“I know things happen very quickly,” Commissioner James McLaughlin said. “You have only seconds to respond. Does that mean if they didn’t engage in de-escalation measures they violated the law?”

“There’s no case law on that yet,” Walsh said, adding that he would interpret that de-escalation would require reasonable time to do so.

“We’re doing more training on it in a more formal setting,” Walsh said, adding that two officers are being trained as instructors in ways to calm a situation before a violent confrontation ensues.

New Canaan Police are also using the Bola Wrap, a non-lethal means of wrapping a tether around a suspect’s legs or torso before the suspect can attack officers or flee.

Chief Leon Krolikowski said New Canaan is the first department in Connecticut using the restraint.