Deficiencies in Deadly Force Data: Recommendations for Future Data Collection Efforts Related to Officer-Involved Shootings

• In Event: Police Use of Force and Early Intervention Systems

Abstract

Recent officer-involved shootings across the United States have brought attention to the use of deadly force by police. Because officers’ use of deadly force is rare (Fyfe, 2002; Klinger, 2012), we have a limited understanding of how an officer makes the decision to fire his or her weapon and we know even less about instances in which an officer arguably could have fired his or her weapon, yet held fire (Reiss, 1980; Scharf and Binder, 1983). This paper will focus on policy recommendations stemming from the analysis of interviews with 83 police officers who were involved in a police-citizen encounter that concluded with police gunfire. Specifically, the author will outline how police organizations can use a detailed interview guide to collect information from police officers who either fired shots or could have fired shots during an incident. By collecting these data, police organizations, and scholars, can gain a greater understanding of how officers make decisions during potentially deadly interactions and can use these findings to alter deadly force training for police officers.

Author

• Jordan C. Pickering, California State University, Fresno