NCJ Number
146756
Date Published
1992
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The authors test the theory that police shootings are related to the officer's perception of the danger he faces by examining the impact of a change in the department issued weaponry on police shootings.
Abstract
This study examined the theory that a relationship exists between the use of deadly force by police officers and an officer's perception of danger in the community in which they work. Earlier studies used community homicide and arrest rates as indicators of perceived danger and assessed their significance in police shootings. In this study, the measure of perceived danger examined was a change in department issued weaponry, i.e., switching from a revolver to a semi-automatic weapon. Presumably this change reflects the department's recognition of increasing dangers in the community. Using an interrupted time series design, researchers attempted to determine whether police shootings increased following a change in the weapon issued. The research was based on data of police shootings in one agency collected between 1980 and 1990. Researchers found that the number of police shootings did increase when the department switched from revolvers to semi-automatic weapons. Although this finding provides support for the perceived danger theory, the authors are careful to point out the limitations of their study. They suggest areas where additional research is needed. 1 figure, 1 table