Zimmerman, the most senior officer in the Minneapolis police department, on Thursday testified that the kind of actions taken by Chauvin go far beyond accepted police protocols. A knee on the neck would be considered “the top tier” of force — “deadly force,” he said from the witness stand. The suspect’s safety at that point also becomes the officer’s responsibility, he said. “His well-being is your responsibility.”“If they become less combative, you may just have him sit down on the curb. “Because of, as I mentioned earlier, your muscles are pulling back when you’re handcuffed, and when you’re laying on your chest, that’s restricting your breathing even more.”

Source: Washington Post April 02, 2021 13:07 UTC