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Fatal Shootings Of Police Officers Drop After Last Year's Spike

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: Crime & Justice News

"An emphasis on defensive tactics and weapons

training is contributing to a dramatic reduction in

police officer fatalities after one of the deadliest years

in two decades, USA Today reports. Fatal police

shootings have been cut in half, to 11, compared with

this time last year. Police deaths overall have declined

39 percent, says the National Law Enforcement

Officers Memorial Fund. Last year, fatal shootings

were up 26 percent, and 68 officers were shot and

killed.

Fund Chairman Craig Floyd believes the early pattern

could hold through the rest of the year. He said police

departments and unions focused so much on last

year's surge that officers take more care in how they

respond even to routine calls. Ed Nowicki of the

International Law Enforcement Educators and

Trainers Association said many of the group's 4,000

members urge such defensive tactics as more

handcuffing, even at traffic stops; more analysis of

video from patrol car dashboard cameras to critique

officers' behavior with suspects who may pose risks;

and renewed emphasis on the use of body armor."

USA Today - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0019bdVri4SorU6RXS_Lja1HMuaact10DrsFsuV1uZdDsMsfx0GucDHHWLSAbMGy7CzJL0D4xHnCRT8KB_c5xVsA32a9mw9wR_ds3s8Bb8wV9YG6XFwfB6_FllF3p732eqbQwYHbZXEFhl8ufl2UcsOQZV-LCZD0K7MCP4KugLHP-A=

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on April 22, 2008 (boomark / email).