NCJ Number
84614
Date Published
1982
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This handbook, developed for the police, minorities, and other concerned parties, discusses practical steps for taking a conciliation approach to alleviating the deadly force controversy.
Abstract
The typical scenario which evokes the deadly force controversy involves an officer attempting to arrest a minority, the shooting of the minority member, and the finding that the suspect was unarmed. Further injuries and arrests in the community may result. The conciliation approach can be successfully implemented in such situations. Minority leaders and the police chief, preferably with the support of city officials, must work together to pursue actions that will provide constructive change in the entire police-minority relationship. Police departments should periodically review their firearms policy to make necessary changes and should provide avenues for citizen input to department planning. Community organizations should encourage their constituencies to cooperate with the police in crime prevention. Organizations should also discourage the filing of frivolous complaints regarding police actions. Police departments must train officers in crowd-control techniques that do not unnecessarily inflame a situation. Departments should ensure that the composition of the force reflects the racial makeup of the community. Human relations courses and psychological testing of officers should be implemented in police training and screening programs. Five footnotes and five references are provided.