Violent Society: The Dilemma When Using Deadly Force (From Special Topics in Policing, P 31-58, 1992, Harry W More -- See NCJ-133112)

• NCJ Number: 133114
• Author(s): H W More
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 28 pages
• Sale Source: Anderson Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Salient issues in police use of deadly force concern who gets shot and why, the frequency of shooting incidents, the control of shootings, and rules that govern police officers in making the decision to shoot.

Abstract

Police officers are the only representatives of governmental authority who are legally permitted to use physical force against citizens. Even so, there is much debate over police use of deadly force and police actions are frequently questioned. The only source that collects data on justifiable homicides by the police is the U.S. Public Health Service. Researchers indicate, however, that these data are deficient due to the inferior quality of medical diagnoses, lack of coroner support in completing required forms, poor instructions for filling out standard death certificates, diversity of procedures used by coroners, and errors in data coding. Most researchers estimate that publicly employed law enforcement personnel kill about 600 criminal suspects each year. They shoot and wound another 1,200 and fire at a total of 1,800 individuals. An important factor in assessing police use of firearms is the danger surrounding police work. In 1987, 73 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty, and 27 died during arrest situations. Nine officers died at the hands of robbery or burglary suspects, 6 were killed by suspects during drug-related arrests, and 12 were killed by assailants suspected of other crimes. Of the 73 police officers killed, 48 were patrol officers. Firearms claimed the lives of 93 percent of officers killed in the line of duty between 1978 and 1987. When police use deadly force, they often do so at night in public locations within high-crime areas of big cities. Police use of deadly force usually involves on-duty uniformed officers firing at suspects between 17 and 30 years of age. A Chicago study of police shootings is detailed, and the constitutionality of police use of deadly force is discussed. 18 references, 6 tables, and 4 figures