In keeping with recent investigations of deterrence and general homicides, multiple regression was used to control for the influence of possible confounding variables. Consistent with previous findings, the analysis provided no evidence that the national return to capital punishment since Furman has had a systematic impact on police killings. Law enforcement officers are not afforded an added measure of protection in death penalty States as compared to abolitionist States, nor was there anything but a chance association between the rate of police killings and the level of use of the death sentence for convicted murderers. 6 tables, 13 notes, and 47 references. (Author abstract modified)