NCJ Number
94142
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1984) Pages: 133-140
Date Published
1984
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The use of firearms by patrol officers tends to result from situational factors, particularly the real danger presented by the situation, the officer's perceptions of the danger, the State law governing the use of firearms by police, the police department's policies, the officer's own values, and the offense seriousness.
Abstract
The race of the shooting victim is not a controlling factor in a patrol officer's decision to shoot. Study data came from questionnaries completed by 151 police officers in 2 municipal police departments. The questionnaire consisted of 12 hypothetical situations describing the use of a firearm. The situations were based on actual incidents in which deadly force was used, and subjects rated the appropriateness of the shooting on a Likert-type scale. Respondents' views regarding the appropriateness of the shooting were fairly uniform and rested on the facts surrounding each case. Firearms training too often involves only stationary shooting from a fixed position. To increase its realism, it should include carefully monitored role playing based on actual shooting incidents. In addition, younger officers, who in this study were more likely to approve of shootings of fleeing burglary suspects, should receive continuous inservice training to improve their ability to identify suspects and their awareness of the legal and ethical aspects of the use of deadly force. Officers who have been in potentially violent situations should also receive inservice training or counseling. Training on physical fitness and nonlethal defensive tactics would also reassure officers who work alone. Data tables and six references are included.