New Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart announced Saturday that the department is banning no-knock search warrants and chokeholds. Lockhart said he made the move in response to tragic events that raised several questions about how Lawrence Police carry out arrests.
“The idea was to surprise the occupants with an overwhelming show of force and take control of the situation in a very dynamic fashion,” Lockhart said. “The tactic is one that should not be part of any law enforcement tactical strategy.”
Lockhart said a meeting with Lawrence’s NAACP Political Action Committee prompted him to place more emphasis on de-escalation, and he hopes the new policy will move the department in that direction.
