Two studies involved this hazard-based typology. First, an analysis of firearms discharges by the New York City Police for the 1971-75 period found that much minority shooting-opponent disproportion was associated with the relatively greater frequency with which blacks and Hispanics confronted police in gun or officer assaults events. This typology also suggested that the disproportionate involvement of minority officers in shooting might be caused by the greater frequency with which they became involved in these same gun events. These variations were associated with deployment practices rather than racial discrimination. The author developed a less complex typology to determine the degree to which aggregate shooting rate variations in two cities were attributable to shootings precipitated by varying degrees of police hazard as well as identify factors responsible for racial disproportion. Tables, 2 footnotes, and 17 references are provided. For related material, see NCJ-86875.