What are your thoughts about putting inmates who are either disruptive or non-compliant into a kneeling position while waiting for transport out of a housing unit. Kneeling is part of my Departments Defensive Tactics program and I have incorporated it into my safety protocol. However, my Captains are giving me a tremendous amount of grief over my tactic. They are telling me absolutely not.

Safety first. Your main objective is to go home every night. If you feel more comfortable placing them on their knees then go for it. It does give you more reaction time if they were to try something. I don’t understand why they are giving you a hard time over it. If it is part of your defensive tactics protocol then I would keep using it. If the inmate is disruptive, it is warranted force. I personnally would tell the Captain if he is in a supervisory position he should know that it is in the protocol.

No problem with the on the knees approach, the only thing safer would be to have them laying face down on their bellies!

Do your homework, and make sure you have a strong union standing behind you.

I have also used this tactic (inmate on knee’s with ankles crossed) one thing i did run into once was an inmate from china freaked out on me when i instructed him to assume this position… the reason he bucked is that in china his homeland this is the position they are put in before being shot in back of the head….