NCJ Number
176952
Journal
Law Enforcement Quarterly Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: Winter 1998-99 Pages: 20-22
Date Published
1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
San Diego's Office of the District Attorney has conducted reviews of all shootings of police officers in the line of duty since the mid-1970s, and the purpose and nature of this review function are described.
Abstract
Although there is no statutory mandate for the District Attorney to review police officer shootings and police use of deadly force, the practice has developed over the last few decades. The District Attorney is the logical agency to perform the review function because no other agency has the independence, experience, and access to all criminal justice agencies to make the kind of thorough and impartial review the public demands. The purpose of the review is to independently examine all shootings and other use of deadly force, both fatal and nonfatal, to assure the public that San Diego police officers are performing their duties in a noncriminal manner. The District Attorney's involvement in a shooting incident begins shortly after its occurrence. An investigator and homicide team support the District Attorney in the review process, and a typical investigation takes 3 to 8 weeks to complete. Most police officers involved in line-of-duty shootings give full and voluntary statements of their observations and actions. The high level of cooperation between police officers and the District Attorney contributes to the success of the review process. 6 photographs