Police, sheriffs, deputy sherrifs and prison guards should be required to carry a pulse oximeter into any procedure where restraints are applied.

These are portable pulse oximeters. The mechanisms can be easily carried by police. When restraints are being applied in any way, the person being restrained should have their oxygen saturation checked. If the suspect and/or prisoner states, "I can't breath." immediately the oxygen saturation should be checked without delay of any kind.

When a pulse oximeter reads below 95% a person's oxygen saturation is compromised. At no point in time should the oxygen saturation level fall below 90%. If the oxygen saturation level falls to 85% the oxygen saturation level is completely compromised and all activity compromising the person restrained should stop.

A young black man will not have health consequences to cause a reading, as in COPD, that is related to chronic health issues opposed to asphyxiation. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to be threatened with death by police when in their custody. Should a reading of less than 95% should be provided with relief to allow them to breath better and immediately transported to an emergency room for further evaluation and intervention. 

In the case of Eric Garner the man needed a patent airway that was not crushed. That means a whole has to be performed to his neck below the crushed airway to insure air exchange. EMTs should be instructed in the procedure of providing a temporary tracheotomy to provide air exchange as the person is transported to the emergency room.