NCJ Number
124512
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 63 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-March, 1990) Pages: 61-77
Date Published
1990
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study, couched in conflict theory, analyzes 875 cases of fatal assault on United States law enforcement officers which occurred during a ten-year (1977-1986) period.
Abstract
Nine research questions are raised and answered in this paper. Some of the more salient findings include that the rate of police murder steadily increased over the years of this study until 1981-1986 when a slight downward trend was observed, the South is the region of the U.S. with the highest amount of police fatalities, and the most dangerous type of call for law enforcement, in terms of fatal assault, is not the domestic disturbance call, but rather the robbery related call. Handguns are the favorite weapon of police killers; 68 percent of handgun murderers use a .38 or .357 calibre weapon. A significant proportion of officers are killed with their own guns. Characteristics of victim officers and a profile of police assailants are presented. Suggestions for reducing police murder are offered. (Author abstract)