NCJ Number
68131
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 47 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1980) Pages: 45-47,77
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
IN THE MURDERS OF 11 POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN CALIFORNIA IN 1979, PERTINENT FACTS ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE SLAYING ARE REVEALED TO TEACH POLICE ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY.
Abstract
MANY FACTS ABOUT POLICE OFFICER MURDERS, 1973-1978, REMAIN SIMILAR FOR 1979. IN ALL YEARS, MOST OFFICERS WERE KILLED AT NIGHT, AVERAGED 34 YEARS OF AGE WITH 8 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE, AND WERE USUALLY KILLED BY YOUNGER MALE SUSPECTS WITH PREVIOUS ARREST RECORDS. THREE FOURTHS OF THE MURDERERS USED HANDGUNS, AND HALF OF THE MURDERED OFFICERS WERE OPERATING AT THE TIME WITH A PARTNER OR BACK-UP. IN 1979, OFFICERS WERE KILLED DURING A WIDE VARIETY OF SITUATIONS, INCLUDING GAME POACHING, A TRAFFIC PURSUIT, AND DURING INCIDENTS INVOLVING NARCOTICS AND MENTALLY DERANGED PERSONS. ALL BUT ONE OFFICER WERE KILLED IN URBAN SETTINGS. HOWEVER, CONTRARY TO FORMER YEARS, MOST OFFICERS (55 PERCENT) KILLED IN 1979 WERE DETECTIVES OR PLAINCLOTHESMEN. THE DATA INDICATE THAT TRADITIONAL PROBLEMS OF CARELESSNESS AND COMPLACENCY CONTINUE AMONG THE POLICE. SINCE MOST OFFICERS KILLED WERE OLDER, EXPERIENCED, AND ACCOMPANIED BY OTHERS, THE POLICE MUST GUARD AND TRAIN AGAINST A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY BROUGHT ABOUT BY AGE, EXPERIENCE, OR NUMBERS. SINCE POLICE WERE KILLED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF INCIDENTS, THEY MUST REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE NEVER SAFE BUT MUST ALWAYS BE ON THEIR GUARD. AS MOST KILLERS USED HANDGUNS, POLICE OFFICERS MUST BE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF SUSPECTS' HANDS. BODY ARMOR SHOULD BE WORN MORE OFTEN, SINCE 73 PERCENT OF THE SLAIN OFFICERS HAD NO PROTECTION. FINALLY, PLAINCLOTHESMEN AND DETECTIVES MUST BE AWARE THAT THE DANGER IN THEIR TYPES OF ASSIGNMENTS IS GROWING, PARTICULARLY FOR URBAN POLICE.