The Use of Deadly Force by Police Officers

The use of deadly force by police officers is a very important subject in today’s society. Many consider the use of deadly force excessive in most cases. However, there are many aspects to look at when considering this topic, such as: Why was deadly force required? When did the officer feel it necessary to apply deadly force? What will be the implications for the officer after the fact? How does the use of deadly force affect society as a whole?

In order to get all of the answers to these questions, we must first define deadly force. According to the Legal Dictionary "Use of deadly force" is often granted to police forces when the person or persons in question are believed to be an immediate danger to people around them. For example, an armed man in a shopping mall shooting at civilians without regard to the safety of anyone around him, and refusing or being unwilling to negotiate, would warrant usage of deadly force, as a means to prevent further danger to the community. The use of deadly force is also authorized when a person poses a significant threat to a law enforcement officer, usually when the officer is at risk of serious bodily injury or death.

The OLR Research Report gives in detail what procedures Connecticut law requires when a law enforcement officer uses deadly force. In the summary, it states that “the statutory standards allow an officer to use deadly physical force when the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to (1) defend himself or herself or a third person from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force or (2) arrest or prevent the escape of someone the officer reasonably believes has committed or attempted to commit a felony involving the infliction or threat of serious physical injury and...

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...d, rationalization and acceptance and this can take a long time. In essence, this phase deals with the officer coming to terms with the incident and making peace within himself, even though some officers deal with one incident for a lifetime.

Unfortunately, many officers never fully recover from this type of incident and experience many post traumatic symptoms for years and in the worst cases have jeopardized their careers or committed suicide. Law enforcement departments can offer psychological therapy and friends and family can offer support, but the officer is the individual who must overcome this tragic event.

In conclusion, according to the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, “often it is not a law enforcement shooting that generates negative consequences, but, rather, it is how the involved agency handles the incident that can foster and feed misperceptions.