NCJ Number
48659
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE EFFORT INITIATED BY THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF SEATTLE, WASH., TO DEFINE AND LIMIT POLICE USE OF DEADLY FORCE (WHEN AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES POLICE OFFICERS MAY SHOOT) ARE DETAILED.
Abstract
AFTER BRIEF REVIEWS OF BOTH THE BACKGROUND OF CITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEADLY FORCE ISSUE AND THE HISTORY OF DEADLY FORCE IN THE U.S., ALTERNATIVE POLICIES ARE PRESENTED REGARDING THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE IN THE APPREHENSION OF FELONY SUSPECTS. TO FACILITATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVIEW, ALL THE POSSIBLE POLICIES RELATING TO THE CAPTURE OF FELONY SUSPECTS ARE GROUPED INTO FOUR BASIC CATEGORIES: (1) THE ANY FELONY POLICY -- POLICE OFFICERS MAY USE DEADLY FORCE IN CAPTURING OR RECAPTURING FELONY SUSPECTS OR CONVICTED FELONS, AFTER ALL OTHER REASONABLE EFFORTS HAVE FAILED; (2) THE ENUMERATED FELONY POLICY -- POLICE OFFICERS MAY USE DEADLY FORCE IN CAPTURING OR RECAPTURING A PERSON SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING AN INHERENTLY DANGEROUS FELONY; (3) THE POLICY BASED ON DANGER -- POLICE OFFICERS MAY USE DEADLY FORCE IN CAPTURING OR RECAPTURING ARMED AND/OR DANGER SUSPECTED FELONS; AND (4) THE SELF-DEFENSE POLICY -- POLICE OFFICERS MAY USE DEADLY FORCE IN SELF-DEFENSE AND IN DEFENSE OF OTHERS. THE ANY FELONY POLICY REFLECTS THE GUIDELINES CONTAINED IN WASHINGTON STATE LAW AND IS SUPPORTED BY THE SEATTLE POLICE GUILD, WHILE THE ENUMERATED FELONY POLICY IS THE ALTERNATIVE CURRENTLY (JAN. 1978) UTILIZED IN SEATTLE. THE POLICY BASED ON DANGER IS THE ALTERNATIVE SUPPORTED BY BOTH THE POLICE FOUNDATION AND THE OFFICE OF POLICY PLANNING. THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION IS BACKING THE SELF-DEFENSE POLICY. THE RATIONALES UNDERLYING EACH OF THE ALTERNATIVE POLICIES ARE DISCUSSED BRIEFLY AND THE PROJECTED EFFECTS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INDIVIDUAL POLICES ARE DETAILED. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS IN SELECTING A POLICY RELATING TO THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE IN THE APPREHENSION OF FELONY SUSPECTS ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING: (1) THE EFFECTS OF POLICIES ON CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE (I.E., JUVENILES, UNARMED SUSPECTS, MINORITIES); (2) DEADLY FORCE AS A DETERRENT; (3) THE RISK OF CIVIL ACTIONS AGAINST THE CITY AND ITS OFFICERS; (4) POLICIES WHICH ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN STATE LAW; AND (5) ANALYSIS BASED ON THE RANKING OF RISKS. ALTHOUGH IT IS THE CITY COUNCIL'S IMMEDIATE TASK TO SELECT A POLICY ALTERNATIVE, ONCE THE SELECTION HAS BEEN MADE, MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP THE POLICY IN OPERATIONAL DETAIL. REFERENCES ARE FOOTNOTED. (KBL)