#Troopers told to abandon defensive tactics in NYC to comply with chokehold law

State Troopers are being warned to abandon certain defensive tactics while stationed in the Big Apple for fear of being prosecuted under the city’s newly passed chokehold law  — but if they’re outside the five boroughs, those banned techniques are still allowed.

An email sent to the roughly 4,000 members of the state police says the bill signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio last week has led to a conditional prohibition on the use of various “techniques that are currently taught [troopers] in the Defensive Tactics curriculum.”

They include “carotid restraint,” “knee on chest/back,” “prone handcuffing while straddling subject” and “any technique involving the neck.”

“These techniques are ONLY banned for use in NYC,” New York State Trooper Col. Joseph Tripodo wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Post.

About 200 troopers and investigators are assigned to work in the Big Apple’s Troop NYC, which is headquartered in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and Chief of Department Terence Monahan have both criticized provisions in the law, saying they ignored the realities of violent struggles with people trying to avoid arrest.

And Mayor Bill de Blasio has acknowledged that the law will make it harder for cops to do their jobs, but said he signed it on July 15 because people “need to be safe. They want to work with the NYPD and they want respect in turn.”

Tripodo, field commander of the state police, warned his troopers that violating the city law, which bars chokeholds and other moves under any circumstances, could result in prosecution on a misdemeanor charge, which is “punishable by imprisonment of not more than one year or a fine of not more than $2,500, or both.”

“Further training to address how to deal with subjects without the utilization of these techniques will be provided,” he wrote in the directive issued Saturday.

“Emphasis will be placed on securing on securing and immobilizing the subject with acceptable techniques until additional personnel arrive to take the subject into custody.”

Tripodo added: “Remember, disengaging when available and use of other justifiable and reasonable uses of force are always an option.”

The union that represents state police investigators criticized the order, saying it will prevent the use of “safe and non-violent control techniques” and could lead to the wielding of “batons, pepper spray, and tasers sooner than necessary in New York City.”

“This State Police order has effectively told our Members working in New York City to change the way they’ve been trained their whole career to effectively control a resisting subject overnight in the blink of an eye,” Ronald Pierone, vice president of the NYSP Investigators Association, said in a written statement.

“It’s unrealistic to expect such a change without extensive re-training and it’s putting our Investigators and Senior Investigators who work in these dangerous areas in an extremely vulnerable situation.”

Also in response to the new law, officials in Westchester and Nassau counties have instructed cops there to steer clear of the city for fear of violating it.