Shoot to Kill? Shoot to Keep Alive? Shoot to Miss?: A Police Officer Charged with Murder

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

Constable Jordan MacWilliams was dispatched to an emergency hostage situation in New Westminster, BC, which resulted in the death of a hostage-taker. Crown Counsel subsequently charged Cst. MacWilliams with second-degree murder as a result of his involvement as the active shooter. This study begins by examining use of deadly-force by police officers using various North American examples, where police officers are heavily scrutinized for their actions. This sets the stage for Cst. MacWilliams’ experience, by offering insight into how a police officer who followed protocol and procedure went from ‘hero to villain’ due to his actions. A semi-structured interview was conducted with Cst. MacWilliams who provided a detailed account, uncovering his expectations in contrast with the reality of what transpired. Three overarching themes emerged from the data: The Noble Cause, Survival, and Leadership and Support. This study offers insight from several scholarly disciplines to gain a holistic understanding of Cst. MacWilliams’ personal journey.

Keywords: police officer, deadly-force, murder

Author

• Soraya Antoinette Janus, Simon Fraser University