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Killing the Police - Myths and Motives

NCJ Number
75311
Journal
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Volume: 452 Dated: (November 1980) Pages: 63-71
Author(s)
M Margarita
Date Published
1980
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article analyzes the situational motives of assailants who have killed New York City police officers in the line of duty, and concludes that the killings occur most often when rational felons are confronted by police attempting to flee the scene of crime.
Abstract
The motives behind 245 criminal homicides of police officers committed between the years of 1844 to 1978 were categorized using a social-psychological classification scheme. The scheme identified five primary motivating factors in attacks on police triggered by the offenders' perception of the immediate situation: perseverance in violence, defense of personal autonomy, protection against concrete danger, defense or support of others, or expressions of contempt. The most common motivating factor, the perceived need for protection against concrete danger posed by the officer, was present in almost two-thirds of police homicides, usually during an escape attempt following the commission of a violent crime. The other motivating factors each triggered less than one-eighth of homicidal attacks. Guns were used by 90 percent of the assailants in their fatal attacks, and the majority of these attacks were protective efforts to avoid arrest. Automobiles were used predominantly as vehicles of escape. Police are not dealing primarily with risks that accompany irrational and unpredictable behaviors. This finding demonstrates that modifications of police response tactics are necessary to reduce homicidal attacks on police officers. Since most homicides have been committed at close range using guns that would be inefficient at greater distances, then distance combined with habitual use of protective cover is a safety precaution that can significantly reduce the number of violent police deaths. Only a small fraction of felony suspects would escape apprehension under a departmental policy emphasizing reflective restraint. This demonstrates that the traditional 'no-holds-barred' approach to police intervention should be evaluated table, 1 figure, and 18 footnotes are included. For related articles, see NCJ 75304. (Author abstract modified)

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