KCCI-TV News (Des Moines, Iowa)
Increase In Police Shootings Raises Questions
Des Moines, Iowa -- Law enforcement officials are scratching their heads over a recent string of deadly police shootings.
At least four times this year, police in Iowa have fatally shot men considered dangerous. Officials are trying to determine if the men wanted police to kill them.
Division of Criminal Investigation director Gene Meyer said it’s something police have thought about, but there’s no way of knowing for sure because the suspects did not indicate if that was their motives.
One Iowa psychologist who counsels officers involved in shootings said the phenomenon isn’t easily spotted and is often misunderstood.
A University of Northern Iowa professor said suicide-by-cop has grown steadily nationwide. She said studies estimate 11 percent of fatal shootings by police have suicidal elements, but the percentage is probably higher.