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.
Officers and their families need training and education before the bullets are flying
Firing your weapon to stop an imminent deadly threat may be the most difficult decision you ever have to make
Amid the threat posed by a man armed with a Katana, officers demonstrate exceptional de-escalation skills
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
After several resignations following the fatal police shooting of Christian Glass, the police department has no officers left, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office said
The man, who had fled from Reno Police on two separate occasions, drove on the wrong side of the road while the officer wrestled for control of the vehicle
“When I made that [911] text, it was already over. Don’t take my actions personal. It’s about me,” the man can be heard telling Long Beach Police
Video shows the man approaching the Shelby Police officer when he suddenly produced a knife and stabbed the officer; after being stabbed, the officer fatally shot him
As Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies tried to de-escalate a dispute between neighbors, the man took a screaming woman into a back bedroom at knifepoint
The man had entered the building’s lobby and reportedly confronted residents with the power tool before the shooting occurred
New York State Police troopers twice tried to use a TASER, but the suspect got up and continued to come at the officers with the knife
The man allegedly stabbed a construction worker at a work site where a Jacksonville Sheriff’s sergeant was working an off-duty security shift
A Hartford officer initially deployed a TASER in an effort to subdue the man, who refused officers’ instructions and repeatedly screamed at them to “go away”
The suspect surrendered to Pasco County Sheriff’s Office deputies after he was struck by gunfire, suffering non-life-threatening injuries
Helicopter and body camera footage appears to show the man smoking before pointing a semi-automatic handgun at deputies who were attempting to de-escalate the situation
After instructing the man to drop the two knives he was holding, the man threw one at an officer, leading Dekalb officers to fire several shots at him
Detective Allan Reddins was killed when responding to a call involving a person armed with a gun who was seen leaving a bank
Justice Eugene Doherty found fault with prosecutors for basing their arguments against release on the officer’s failures to meet expectations during the shooting
A call for enhanced training and innovation to reverse the trend and keep officers safe
“I’m very grateful for the excellent police work of these officers, the courage,” said Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. "...They were strong, and they did what they had to do”
After a Louisiana State Police officer tried to initiate a traffic stop, the man fled, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph and eventually crashing into a tree before the shooting incident
The man, who allegedly shot his brother, was killed when officers returned fire; a Jackson Police sergeant who was shot during the incident is expected to recover
The standoff, which involved several agencies, began when the man shot at Steuben County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were conducting a welfare check
Knoxville Police Department officers repeatedly instructed the man to drop the weapon for nearly a minute before firing shots when he quickened his approach
The Durham Police officer fired at a juvenile suspected of throwing the objects after the teen raised a firearm
“What’s in your jacket? I’m kind of nervous with your hand in your jacket like that,” the Santa Monica officer asked before the man said, “You’re nervous?” and attacked the officer
The suspect, who was arrested for DUI earlier in the day, returned to the Northwest Regional police station with a handgun and pointed it at officers
Key reforms include training Mesa PD officers to create “time and distance” in tense situations, which allows for de-escalation and the use of communication techniques
Body camera footage of the incident was released after the man pleaded guilty to attempted murder of the Fort Wayne officer and was sentenced to 30 years in prison
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