Officer-Involved Shootings
The Officer-Involved Shootings topic page provides news about cops in deadly confrontations, as well as tactical tips and columnists’ perspective on how to handle such situations.
Unfortunately, law enforcement agencies have traditionally been hesitant to engage in this kind of self-analysis and information sharing
Remember to prepare for the conditions you might find yourself outside in for several hours
The court ruled the officers’ use of force, aimed at stopping an armed driver who had shot a police K-9 and his handler, was not excessive
The Henderson Police officer needed 11 staples in his head to treat his injuries after being struck by the vehicle; the driver was arrested on attempted murder and other charges
The suspect sustained minor injuries when the East Rochester PD officer returned fire; he has since been charged with attempted murder and sentenced to 35 years to life
Brazoria County Deputy Jesus Vargas can be seen approaching the suspect vehicle’s passenger door just as it cracks open
“Officers responded. He was armed, he fired shots and our officers returned fire and the suspect is deceased,” Florence’s Chief of Police Mike Holt said
In Naji v. Dearborn, the court affirmed an officer’s qualified immunity for shooting a suspect who pointed a gun at him
The man ignored instructions to put his hands up and moved toward Torrance, Calif. officers with the screwdriver, which they believed was a knife
Howard County Police officers heard a woman crying for help, but gunfire prevented them from entering the house; they were able to save her after she crawled onto the roof
Dallas Police officers opened fire at the man after he ignored instructions to get on the ground and continued to point the replica gun at a bystander
Otero County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jacob Diaz-Austin fired 19 shots at the 17-year-old who presented “what appeared to be a firearm,” according to New Mexico State Police
The D.C. Police officers were able to return fire, fatally wounding the suspect
Slain Oak Park Detective Allan Reddins died Nov. 29 after a suspect pulled out a gun and shot him as officers responded to a call
The woman warned dispatchers she might harm Greenville County deputies if they came to the scene; she then lunged at them with a knife multiple times
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. police responded after family members reported the armed man was suffering a mental health crisis in a home with children nearby
The suspect was accused of shooting an officer several times, including in the head, and a statewide manhunt ensued before he was killed in Kentucky the next day
San Antonio Police said their investigation found the suspect allegedly shot himself in the head while running from officers into a drainage ditch
Video shows that the suspect had earlier driven a black SUV outfitted with police-style lights in pursuit of an e-bike rider; he struck two bystanders and the bicyclist
Shooting to wound might seem like a humane option, but this article explains why it’s not viable based on science, law, and tactics
Trooper Dakotah Chapman-Green tried to take cover but the suspect “repeatedly struck him in the head and face with the gun,” Illinois State Police said
Jared Reston’s (a cop who’s ‘been there’ repeatedly) 10 fundamentals to help any cop win a gunfight
Evansville officers issued verbal commands for the suspect to drop the weapon, but instead of complying, the suspect raised the firearm and aimed it at officers in a firing stance
After crashing through the doors, the man continued driving at least 100 yards into the mall, striking and injuring at least 5 people
Former Kansas City Police officer Eric DeValkenaere has been freed after his 2021 conviction of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Cameron Lamb in 2019
West Hartford Officer Andrew Teeter acted in order to “defend himself and others from what he reasonably believed to be a threat of serious injury or death”
Ketter survived a harrowing standoff and returned to duty, proving resilience knows no limits
“[This] was the best-case scenario. Unfortunately, yes, [Officer Michael Cook] was struck in the leg, but he got to go home to his family,” Muskogee Police stated
Madera County Sheriff’s Office deputies were pursuing the man after he allegedly stole a vehicle and hit multiple other cars; K-9 Obie was shot with numerous pellets in the pursuit
The man had allegedly shot and killed two people before firing shots at San Diego Harbor Police officers, wounding one
Charlotte County Sheriff’s Cpl. Elio Diaz was conducting a traffic stop when the subject of the stop reached into his truck cab, grabbed a rifle and fatally shot Diaz
A man opened fire at the Fresno sergeant as he was arriving in his cruiser, striking him three times; the sergeant engaged the man in a shootout, ultimately leading to the man’s death
Sgt. Rick Finley was working part-time with Selmer PD and full-time with the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office when he was attacked and fatally shot by a suspect
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