NCJ Number
134735
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (1991) Pages: 17-34
Date Published
1991
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This analysis of aspects of police use of deadly force focuses on the suspects and officers involved in each incident as well as the contextual/situational characteristics in which each incident occurred.
Abstract
All incidents that involved intentional firearms discharges by Detroit police officers from September 1976 through August 1981 comprised the population for this study. Data were collected on all police shootings that resulted in civilian deaths (82 cases) and injuries (166 cases). In addition, a systematic random sample of 15 percent of all 682 "missed-shot" incidents was collected. A data-collection instrument was developed to provide the needed information. The research explored whether suspect behavior, suspect possession of a prior criminal record, and type of felony committed by the suspect prior to the shooting varied with shooting outcome. Thirty-five percent of the fatal incidents involved fleeing suspects; whereas, 63 percent and 89 percent of the injury and missed-shot incidents, respectively, involved fleeing suspects. Although 79 percent of the fatal shootings involved armed suspects, only 57 percent of the injury incidents and 58 percent of the missed-shot incidents involved armed suspects. Moreover, 72 percent of the fatal shootings involved suspects reportedly threatening the use of a weapon, compared with 57 percent for both the injury and missed-shot incidents. A higher proportion of fatal-shooting suspects shot at police than did either the missed-shot or injured suspects. Suspects in fatal shootings had a higher number of prior misdemeanor charges, misdemeanor convictions, felony charges, and felony convictions than either injury or missed-shot suspects. 4 tables and 27 references