CMPD has rules for safe, secure transport of prisoners

As in Baltimore, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have rules in place that aim to prevent deaths like Freddie Gray’s.

Six Baltimore officers have been charged in connection with Gray’s death, which occurred after he was taken into custody and placed in a police van. Authorities say Gray was injured while left handcuffed and alone in the back of the van. Gray told the officers several times he needed medical help but never received it, Baltimore’s prosecutor said.

According to their policies, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police approach these situations with care.

“The handling and transportation of persons in custody is one of the single most dangerous functions that a police officer performs,” the department’s policy reads.

As such, the rules seem designed with the security of prisoners and officers in mind.

▪ Restraint: All prisoners are restrained with handcuffs or some other approved device. Anyone in police custody “will be considered a potential danger to the transporting officers and will be properly searched.”

▪ Medical issues: Officers “will use discretion and, when necessary, consult a supervisor when confronted with a prisoner who has an obvious or known physical condition that will prohibit the use of restraining devices.”

▪ Transport: Single prisoners must be handcuffed and must sit in the rear passenger side seat. If a second officer is on hand, the officer will sit beside the prisoner “and monitor the prisoner’s condition and activity.”

▪ Scrutiny: Visual observation of the prisoners “must be maintained at all times ... Under no circumstances will a prisoner in custody be left unattended in a transport vehicle.”

▪ Travel: While transporting prisoners, officers are prohibited from stopping unless a life-threatening situation arises.

▪ Medical care: If a prisoner becomes sick or injured, “the arresting officer must seek medical treatment for the prisoner at that time.”

Mecklenburg Chief Public Defender Kevin Tully said CMPD has the proper rules. “The question becomes, ‘Are they followed?’”

“There are tens of thousands of officers exercising proper restraint, and people aren’t getting shot and injured,” he said. “That’s certainly true of our local police. It proves it can be done.”

Staff researcher Maria David contributed.

This story was originally published May 1, 2015 at 8:28 PM with the headline "CMPD has rules for safe, secure transport of prisoners."