Longmont Public Safety’s use of force policies generally got good reviews from city council Tuesday night as did the decision last year to quit using the sedative ketamine on suspects who were showing signs of severe agitation.
Longmont Fire received a waiver from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to use ketamine in early 2018 but suspended its use in September, Rob Spendlow, Longmont’s acting Public Safety chief, told council during a study session.
The waiver required the drug’s use only by highly trained personnel and under specific conditions and each time ketamine was used came under direct review by Public Safety Department Medical Director Dr. Julie Krell Hall, according to Deputy Police Chief Jeff Satur.
“To date, there have been no adverse effects/outcomes as the result of ketamine administration with the Longmont EMS system,” Satur said last week via email.
Ketamine was administered 68 times to manage pain and 25 times for suspects exhibiting “agitated delirium,” Spendlow said Tuesday.
Longmont quit using ketamine on the advice of Krell Hall after the July 2019 death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain in Aurora. Ketamine was used on McClain while he was being handcuffed by police. McClain died of a heart attack while he was transferred to a local hospital.
Some medical experts say ketamine should not be used while a suspect is handcuffed and on the ground.
Media scrutiny on the uses of ketamine on suspects prompted Longmont to shelve its use, Spendlow told council Tuesday.
The decision was praised by Councilwoman Polly Christensen, who said agitated delirium “is not a good excuse” to use ketamine.
Christensen said she asked for a council review of the city’s use of force policies to show the public that Longmont police are well trained in handling difficult situations
“I wanted our community reassured they are thoughtful and careful,” she said.
Spendlow briefly reviewed for council Longmont Police Services’ use of force policy, which he said values the “sanctity of human life” as well as constitutional principles.
“Police Services Division members are authorized by law to use reasonable and appropriate force when needed to carry out the responsibility of protecting the public welfare and to defend themselves,” Spendlow said.
Satur added that police often are placed in difficult situations and must gauge the appropriate amount of force to be used.
“We have to look at the totality of the situation when dealing with a suspect,” Satur said. “Is there a previous history of previous assaults by that suspect? Does that person have any mental health indicators? We have to adjust our force based on the level of the threat.
“A stick,” Satur said, “is different from a bat.”
