NCJ Number
80961
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1981) Pages: 367-382
Date Published
1981
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Findings are presented from a study that examined the race of New York City police officers involved in discharging their firearms and being subjects of serious assaults from January 1, 1971 to December 31, 1975.
Abstract
Based on the belief that minority officers are more frequently exposed to threats and violence than white officers, the following hypotheses were posed: (1) black and Hispanic officers will have higher rates of involvement in police shootings than white officers; (2) much of the minority disproportion among on-duty shooters can be accounted for by racial differences in assignments; (3) much of the minority disproportion among off-duty police shooters can be accounted for by their disproportionate presence in those areas of the city where the risk of shooting involvement is greatest. The analysis showed the overrepresentation of minority officers among police shooters closely associated with racially varying pattern of assignment, socialization, and residence. Black and Hispanic officers are disproportionately assigned to high crime areas. The residences of off-duty shooters are clearly differentially distributed along racial lines. The rationale for assigning minority police officers to high crime areas can be justified (reduction in police-community friction). It is likely, therefore, that minority disproportion among on-duty police shooters will continue for as long as current inner-city conditions and police deployment patterns responsive to them persist. The pattern of off-duty shooters among officers is beyond the control of police administrators. Tabular data and 20 references are provided.