NCJ Number
162897
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (1996) Pages: 255-264
Date Published
1996
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article reports the results of analyses based on 2,073 officer injury incidents (reports) obtained from a large U.S. midwestern municipal police department.
Abstract
Although the similarities between felonious assault and homicide incidents that victimize police are known, little is known about the accidental deaths of police officers, and virtually nothing is known about accidental injuries. This study provides data from injury reports filed by sworn police officers as recorded by the supervisors who completed the reports. To compare assault and accidental incidents, the sample was disaggregated by the nature of the incident (assault versus accident). Accidents were of two types: where the incident resulted from an unintended event (for example, an automobile accident or a training accident) and where the incident resulted from acts of a suspect, but were not of an intentional or assaultive nature. The findings show the felonious incidents are relatively rare events; the majority of incidents, regardless of the task engaged in, do not result from assaults and do not result in deaths or serious injury. Most injury incidents result from accidents, and most injuries, regardless of how sustained, are relatively minor. The most serious injuries are most often due to accidents; most medical treatment is due to accidents; and most days off result from accidents. Policy implications of these findings are discussed. 2 tables, 5 notes, and 29 references