NCJ Number
95538
Date Published
1983
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video cassette portrays and comments on the phase of the Miami Police Department's (Florida) firearm training that teaches officers when and when not to shoot their firearms.
Abstract
The Miami Police Department's policy for the use of deadly force is that it should only be used in defense of life. This excludes its use against a fleeing felon. The training course uses films and role playing to simulate situations similar to those officers may face on the street. In the simulations, trainees are required to make judgments about whether or not to fire their weapons. Following each simulation exercise, trainee participants are questioned by the instructor regarding their decisions to use or not use their weapons in the simulation. If their weapons were fired, the instructor requires that this be justified by the standard of defense of life. If the target of trainee fire is not found to have a weapon which he or she is threatening to use, then the trainee is criticized for his or her judgment to fire. In arguing against police firing at fleeing felons, one police official comments that such action threatens death to a person who has not even been found guilty of a crime, since every suspect is deemed innocent until convicted by a court. The protection of life rather than the taking of life is argued to be the standard for the police use of deadly force. The commentary notes that while training can improve officers' judgments in using their weapons, the decision still must often be made in a split second on the basis of an officer's personal perceptions of what is happening in particular and often unique circumstances.