NCJ Number
51699
Journal
Police Magazine Volume: 1 Issue: 5 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 5-14
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE CONTINUOUS DEBATE OVER USE OF DEADLY FORCE BY POLICE, PARTICULARLY WHEN APPREHENDING FLEEING FELONS, IS DISCUSSED ALONG WITH THE TENDENCY TOWARDS TIGHTER REGULATIONS REGARDING POLICE OFFICERS' WEAPONS USE.
Abstract
AS LATE AS 1800, VIRTUALLY ALL FELONIES IN THE U.S. AND GREAT BRITAIN COULD BE PUNISHABLE BY DEATH, AND THE 'FLEEING FELONS RULE,' WHICH ALLOWS POLICE OFFICERS TO USE DEADLY FORCE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE COMMISSION OF FELONIES AND AID IN THE ARREST OF FELONS, EXTENDS FROM THIS CRIMINAL LAW. THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION HAS DEVELOPED TEST CASES AIMED AT STRIKING DOWN FLEEING FELON RULES, AND THEIR SUCCESS IN A NUMBER OF CASES IS NOTED. THE OCCURRENCE OF A POLICE HOMICIDE IS PARTICULARLY CONTROVERSIAL WHEN THE VICTIM IS A MEMBER OF A MINORITY GROUP. A 2-YEAR STUDY BY THE POLICE FOUNDATION FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF MINORITY CIVILIANS KILLED BY POLICE WAS DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH, IT WAS 'NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE NUMBER OF BLACKS ARRESTED FOR SERIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENSES.' MORE AND MORE DEPARTMENTS ARE ADOPTING ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS DESIGNED TO RESTRAIN THE USE OF FIREARMS BY OFICERS, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR FIREARMS USE ONLY IN SELF-DEFENSE. FIREARMS POLICIES FOR POLICE IN WAYNE COUNTY, MICH., MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTIES, MD., AND WASHINGTON, D.C., ARE DISCUSSED AS WELL AS POLICE ADMINISTRATORS' ATTEMPTS IN SAN JOSE, CA., AND KANSAS CITY, MO., TO IMPROVE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH BLACK AND HISPANIC POPULATIONS. (DAG)