Lawmakers Vote on Banning Excessive Force

Tennessee lawmakers to vote on banning chokeholds, no-knock warrants, and other measures seen as excessive force.

The Tennessee Senate has passed a bill that would force law enforcement agencies statewide to ban the use of chokeholds, no-knock warrants, and other measures. Lawmakers will vote on the bill to create universal protocols for the use of force by police officers. At present its up to individual police departments which restrictions to put in place. Mephis Police are already using many of the proposed guidelines as part of the #8CantWait Campaign (Source: https://8cantwait.org/) while Shelby County has told deputies in the Sheriff's Office that they are required to speak up when they see a colleague use excessive force.

If the vote goes in favor of the proposed bill, agencies will develop a policy on de-escalation to be in place by January 1, 2022.