NCJ Number
96627
Date Published
1984
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This analysis of assaults against law enforcement officers in Iowa during 1982 covers areas where assaults occurred, situations leading to assaults, type of weapons used, type of assignment of assaulted officers, and injuries.
Abstract
There were 929 assaults reported in 1982, a decrease of 16.2 percent from 1981. Most occurred in the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas. As in previous years, few assaults involved weapons other than hands, fists, and feet. Only 23 involved firearms, 11 knives, and 42 other weapons. Most assaults rose from arrest situations. Disturbance calls such as a domestic situation or loud party accounted for 31 percent of the assaults, and arrests other than for burglary and robbery for another 27 percent. The third most frequent assault situation was handling of prisoners. The vast majority of assaults in all areas did not result in injury to officers. Injuries were least likely when firearms were involved and most common when weapons other than firearms or knives were used. No police officers were killed in Iowa in 1982. Assaults were most likely to occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and usually were directed toward uniformed rather than plainclothes officers. Over 98 percent of these assaults resulted in arrests. Maps, tables, and graphs are included. (Author summary modified)