A bill banning the use of face-down restraint techniques by state employees passed a second reading on the Senate floor Friday.
The use of so-called “prone restraint” has led to several “needless, inhumane deaths” in recent years, said Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, the sponsor of Senate Bill 49. Prone restraint drew fire for the death of a patient at Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo last year. Troy Geske suffocated after he was laid on his face and had his hands and feet tied behind his back.
SB 49 also bans any state employee from using a mechanical prone restraint and prevents the use of prone restraint on mentally handicapped people receiving care.
The bill does not ban the temporary use of face-down techniques by police and other safety officials to restrain violent individuals.
Arvada resident Cynthia Andersen’s sister, Julie, was among the cases cited by Williams as inspiration for the bill. Julie Andersen died while in custody in 2001 after police in Adams County restrained her face-down, Andersen said. Andersen, who testified at the committee hearing, said she was told drug use contributed to her sister’s death. Andersen said prone-restraint techniques need to end.
“They need to figure out another way,” she said. “There needs to be a change in training.”
Williams echoed those sentiments and said she was dedicating the bill to victims.
“These people never should have died,” Williams said.
Kyle Glazier: 303-954-1638 or kglazier@denverpost.com
