OFFICER CHARACTERISTICS AND RACIAL DISPARITIES IN FATAL OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS

Attached please find a brand-new study by faculty researchers at the Departments of Psychology at the University of Maryland and Michigan State University. 

The study looks at the influence of race in fatal officer involved shootings, both the race of the officer and the race of the offender.  In particular, the authors were looking to evaluate objectively whether racial bias on the part of officers comes into play in the decision to  use deadly force. 

The authors state:  “We find no evidence of anti-Black or anti-Hispanic disparities across shootings, and White officers are not more likely to shoot minority civilians than non-White officers.”  Rather, the demographic characteristics of the jurisdictions being policed, and from which officers are hired, explain far more about differences in the uses of force.  The article is very densely written, but it provides solid academic resources for our NAPO member groups to use in defending their officers.  Please do share it with your legal representatives and any P.R. persons you may work with.

Bill Johnson 

Executive Director

National Association of Police Organizations

Read the full study HERE

Study by David J. Johnsona,b,1, Trevor Tressb, Nicole Burkelb, Carley Taylorb, and Joseph Cesariob
aDepartment of Psychology, University of Maryland at College Park, College Park, MD 20742; and bDepartment of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824