CRCH: Carotid Restraint Control Hold.

According to the Omaha Police Department’s 838 page Policies and Procedures Manual, CRCH is an “approved tactic that may be used to quickly and safely stop physical resistance.”

Omaha Deputy City Attorney Bernard in den Bosch tells News Channel Nebraska CRCH, “Does involve compression on the lateral side of the neck.” He adds, “Some people might get choked.”

And in the days following the suffocation of George Floyd it’s arguably similar to the kind of tactics some describe as an outright chokehold that should be banned by police departments.

Asked by News Channel Nebraska if OPD is reviewing its use of CRCH, the head of the Public Information Office, Lt. Sherie Thomas said, “Yes, the Chief and Deputy Chiefs are reviewing that policy in addition to others.”

According to OPD’s manual another controversial tactic LVNR—Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint—the department “no longer certifies officers in the use of the LVNR technique.”

LVNR was reportedly used by New York police during the 2014 death of Eric Garner.

That same year the Los Angeles Times reported that proponents of LVNR backed the maneuver arguing it does not impede breathing as does a chokehold because it does not target the windpipe but instead restricts blood flow to the brain, potentially causing loss of consciousness.

According to the Times, Gerald Hankerson, president of the Seattle King County NAACP, did not see a distinction. “A chokehold by another fancy name is still a chokehold. Whatever the name may be, it is really another attempt by an officer to put his arm around someone’s neck,” Hankerson said. “When we see someone with their arms wrapped around someone’s neck, that is a chokehold.”

As to when Omaha police will decide on the future of CRCH, Lt. Thomas tells NCN, “We will let the media and public know of any updates.”