NCJ Number
68941
Journal
Police Product News Volume: 4 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1980) Pages: 26,28,30,69
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE EXPERIENCES OF POLICE OFFICERS' KILLING SUSPECTS IN THE LINE OF DUTY ARE REPORTED, AND POLICE METHODS OF HANDLING THESE INCIDENTS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IN OUR SOCIETY, ONLY POLICE OFFICERS HAVE THE POWER TO KILL IN THE LINE OF DUTY. ALTHOUGH OFFICERS MAY RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO THE EXPERIENCE OF KILLING, MOST FIND IT TRAUMATIC AS WELL AS AWESOME. ALTHOUGH MANY FACTS HAVE BEEN GATHERED ABOUT POLICE KILLINGS, LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT HOW POLICEMEN RESPOND EMOTIONALLY TO THE EXPERIENCE. RESULTS OF INTERVIEWS WITH SEVERAL POLICEMEN ARE PRESENTED. MANY POLICEMEN FIND THE EXPERIENCE OF KILLING PAINFUL TO TALK ABOUT, BUT ONE VETERAN OFFICER CLAIMS EXPERIENCE MAKES IT EASIER TO KILL. SOME POLICEMEN GROW TO LIKE KILLING, DESPISING THOSE WHOM THEY KILL, BUT THEY THEMSELVES ARE HELD IN CONTEMPT. IN GENERAL, HOWEVER, AFTER A SHOOTING INCIDENT, POLICE OFFICERS ARE GLAD TO BE ALIVE AND ARE OFTEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE LEGAL PROBLEMS THEY MAY HAVE. MOST POLICEMEN KILL BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO DO SO WITHOUT THINKING WHEN THEIR LIVES ARE THREATENED. MOREVER, VETERAN POLICEMEN TEACH RECRUITS TO KILL QUICKLY AND UNEMOTIONALLY WHEN THEY THEMSELVES FACE A THREAT OF DEATH. AMERICAN POLICEMEN FACE A DOUBLE STANDARD WHEN THEY ADOPT THE MENTALITY OF COMBAT THAT DEHUMANIZES SUSPECTS AND FIND THEMSELVES IN CONFLICT WITH THE COMBAT ATTITUDE. POLICEMEN NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN WARINESS AND TRUSTING. POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY TOWARD KILLING INCIDENTS, OFTEN AFFECTED BY PUBLIC OPINION, GREATLY AFFECTS HOW POLICEMEN REACT AFTER THEY HAVE KILLED A SUSPECT. BOTH IGNORING KILLING INCIDENTS AND EXPOSING POLICEMEN TO PUBLIC SHAME ARE BAD. ROUTINE INVESTIGATIONS OF KILLINGS IN THE LINE OF DUTY SHOULD BE HANDLED SENSITIVELY AND THE POLICEMEN INVOLVED SHOULD BE GIVEN EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL SUPPORT.