NCJ Number
53887
Date Published
1978
Length
741 pages
Annotation
DATA ON ALL REPORTED INCIDENTS INVOLVING DISCHARGES OF FIREARMS BY POLICE AND/OR ASSAULTS ON POLICE IN NEW YORK CITY FROM JANUARY 1, 1971, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 1975, ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
THE DATA, WHICH WERE TAKEN FROM THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT FIREARMS DISCHARGE/ASSAULT REPORTS AND THE RECORDS OF THE FIREARMS DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARD, REFLECT 3,573 DISTINCT INCIDENTS INVOLVING 4,904 OFFICERS, OF WHOM 3,827 DISCHARGED THEIR FIREARMS IN 2,926 SHOOTING INCIDENTS. THE REPORT EXAMINES THE NATURE OF FIREARMSASSAULT INCIDENTS, THE EFFECTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRAINTS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES ON SHOOTING DISCRETION, AND THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONAL VARIABLES (E.G., PERSONNEL DEPLOYMENT PRACTICES) ON SHOOTING. SHOOTING INCIDENTS OCCUR PREDOMINATELY AT NIGHT IN INNER-CITY AREAS AND ARE MOST OFTEN PRECEDED BY ROBBERIES. THE INCIDENTS ARE DISTRIBUTED FAIRLY CONSISTENTLY BETWEEN SUMMER AND WINTER AND AMONG THE DAYS OF THE WEEK. BLACK OFFICERS USE THEIR GUNS (JUSTIFIABLY AND OTHERWISE) MORE OFTEN THAN WHITES, ARE ASSAULTED MORE OFTEN THAN WHITES, AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO WORK IN PRECINCTS IN WHICH VIOLENCE IS COMMONPLACE. FEW SHOOTINGS ARE ONE-ON-ONE SITUATIONS. MINORITY OPPONENTS (CITIZENS INVOLVED IN CONFRONTATIONS WITH POLICE) ARE MORE LIKELY THAN WHITES TO BE ARMED. BLACK OPPONENTS ARE LIKELY TO BE ARMED WITH GUNS AND TO BE IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS DURING A CONFRONTATION. HISPANIC OPPONENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ALONE, TEND TO BE OLDER THAN OTHER OPPONENT TYPES, AND FREQUENTLY USE KNIVES AGAINST POLICE. WHITE OPPONENTS FREQUENTLY USE VEHICLES TO ASSAULT AND/OR TO FLEE FROM POLICE. STRINGENT GUIDELINES AND REVIEW PROCEDURES APPEAR TO HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE NATURE AND FREQUENCY OF EXTREME POLICE-CITIZEN VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK CITY. HOWEVER, THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH NEW YORK POLICE ARE PROSECUTED OR DISCIPLINED FOR USING THEIR GUNS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS CANNOT ELIMINATE UNWISE OR UNJUSTIFIED SHOOTINGS. THE ANALYSIS ALSO REVEALS THAT VIOLATIVE AND CRIMINAL SHOOTINGS BY POLICE ARE MORE COMMON AMONG OFF-DUTY OFFICERS. ANOTHER MAJOR FINDING IS THAT THE MANNER IN WHICH PERSONNEL ARE DEPLOYED APPARENTLY AFFECTS THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH POLICE-CITIZEN VIOLENCE OCCURS. THREE RECOMMENDATIONS EMERGE FROM THE STUDY: (1) POLICE AGENCIES SHOULD TRY TO MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY THAT DEVIANT INDIVIDUALS WILL GET THE CHANCE TO USE FIREARMS UNLAWFULLY OR UNWISELY BY WORKING TO DEVELOP SCREENING, SOCIALIZATION, AND PERFORMANCE-MONITORING DEVICES; (2) AGENCIES SHOULD SCRUTINIZE THEIR ENFORCEMENT AND DEPLOYMENT POLICIES TO BE CERTAIN THAT OFFICERS ARE NOT UNNECESSARILY PLACED IN SITUATIONS IN WHICH THEY WILL FREQUENTLY BE REQUIRED TO RESORT TO SHOOTING AS A MEANS OF SURVIVAL; AND (3) AGENCIES SHOULD DEVELOP SHOOTING POLICIES AND REVIEW PROCEDURES THAT PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDELINES CONSONANT WITH AGENCY AND COMMUNITY PHILOSOPHY. COMMENTS ON POLICE SUICIDES, A POLICE SHOOTING TYPOLOGY, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)