"Killed in the Line of Duty"

Three year FBI study of the deaths of 54 law enforcement officers, integrating the examination of the officer, the offender and their confrontation by Greg Conner, Associate Professor, University of Illinois, Police Training Institute.

FOCUS ON THE CONFRONTATION

Scene Circumstances

39% arrest situations/crimes in progress

22% traffic pursuit/stops

13% disturbance calls

11% handling, transporting, custody of prisoners

Time of Day

30% 12:01am – 6am

28% 12:01pm – 6pm

28% 6:01pm – midnight

Weapon Used

72% handgun

13% rifle

9% shotgun

Cartridge Used

41% .38 Smith & Wesson Special

15% .357 Remington Magnum

10% .32 Smith & Wesson

10% 9mm Luger-Parabellum

Geographical Variance

49% South

12% Northeast

19% Midwest

19% West

FOCUS ON THE OFFENDER

Demographics

96% were male

26 years of age

60% were white

5 feet 9 inches

176 pounds

45% married, 32% divorced

34% no degree, 60% high school degree

Criminal History

74% regularly carried a handgun

80% described themselves as “instinct” shooters

72% had previous arrests for drug offenses

76% were engaged in drug or alcohol activity just prior to the incident

41% were involved with alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident

Psychological Evaluation

56% were diagnosed as antisocial personality type, including such traits as:

-Disregard or social obligations

-Enter only advantageous relationships

-High levels of aggression

-Low tolerance for frustration

-Not readily modifiable by experience

48% had murdered or attested to murder prior to the incident

36% had been shot at prior the incident

54% had practiced with their weapons within a month of the encounter

74% had practiced informally

FOCUS ON THE OFFICER

Demographics

98% were male

34 years of age

93% were white

5 feet 10 inches

188 pounds

81% married, 2% divorced

83% high school degree, 9% college degree

Agency Affiliation

46% municipal police

26% sheriff’s police

15% state police

4% federal officers

Duty Assignment

70% assigned to one officer vehicle

9% assigned to two-officer vehicle

9% assigned to detective or special assignment

6% off duty

57% of the attacks were at night

Behavioral Descriptors

Friendly and well-liked by community and department

Uses less force than other officers in similar situations

Perceives self as more public relations than law enforcer

Uses force only as last resort

Only 8% of partner officers returned fire

85% failed to fire their weapon

Doesn’t follow all the rules, especially in regard to:

- Arrests

- Traffic stops

- Does not call for or wait for back up

Tends to look for the “good” in others

“Laid back” and “easy going”

57% of the offenders characterized the victim officer as unprepared

Only 15% were wearing body armor

FOCUS ON PROCEDURES

Errors

Failed to call for backup

Initiated contact prior to backup arrival

Incomplete searches

Improper or non-use of handcuffs

Improper positioning of police vehicle

Conflicts

Suspect placement in front seat of squad during contact

Prohibitions on drawing and/or directing service revolver

Absence

Lacked skills for “drawn weapon” confrontations

Lacked skills in confronting multiple subjects

Lacked skills in team arrest tactics

FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

Checklist of Challenges

Development of functional perception skills

Improved identification options during off duty/raid assignments

Tactical approaches for armed suspect(s)

Improving adherence to establish police protocols

Correlation and integration of survival techniques at all stages of confrontational

Contact and Control

Encouragement of wearing body armor from recruit class to retirement

Increased emphasis on searching frequency and intensity

Enhance constant vigilance toward risk assessment

Increase instruction in areas of potential medical contingencies during violent

Confrontations

Adopt and adapt a holistic approach to system and self strategies for safety

The Ten Fatal Errors That Have Killed Experienced Lawmen

1) YOUR ATTITUDE

If you fail to keep you mind on the job while on patrol or you carry home problems into the field, you will start to make errors. It can cost you or other fellow officers their lives.

2) TOMBSTONE COURAGE

No one doubts that you are all man. But in any situation where time allows – WAIT for the backup. There are FEW instances where alone and unaided you should attempt to make dangerous apprehension.

3) NOT ENOUGH REST

To do you job you must be alert. Being sleepy or asleep on the job is not only against regulations, but you endanger yourself, the community, and all you fellow officers.

4) TAKING A BAD POSITION

Never let anyone you are questioning o about to stop get in a better position than you and your vehicle. There is NO SUCH THING AS A ROUTINE call or stop.

5) DANGER SIGNS

As a law enforcement officer, you will recognize “danger signs.” Movements, strange cars, warnings that should alert you to watch your step and approach with caution. Know your beat, your community, and watch for what is “out of place.”

6) FAILURE TO WATCH THE HANDS OF A SUSPECT

Is he reaching for a weapon or getting ready to strike you?

Where else can a potential killer strike but from his hands?

7) RELAXING TOO SOON

The “rut” of false alarms that are accidentally set off.

Walking in and ASKING if the place is being help up. OBSERVE the activity.

Never take ANY call as routine, or just another false alarm. It’s YOUR life on the line.

8) IMPROPER USE OF or NO HANDCUFFS

Once you have made the arrest, handcuff the prisoner AND PROPERLY. See that the hands that can kill are safely cuffed.

9) NO SEARCH or POOR SEARCH

There are SO many places to hide weapons that your failure to search is a crime against your fellow officers. Many criminals carry SEVERAL weapons, and are prepared to use them against YOU.

10) DIRTY OR INOPERATIVE WEAPON

Is your gun clean? Will it fire? How about the ammunition? When did you last fire last so that you can hit a target in combat conditions? What’s the use of carrying ANY firearm that may not work?

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