In further consideration of racial characteristics among male Police Officers and their likelihood of using deadly force, it is imperative to also explore the past research regarding the deadly force trends according to minority Officers. When researchers have focused on the race of the officer, a number of inquiries have relied on data collected from larger cities. The results surprisingly concluded that “Black officer are disproportionately likely to shoot civilians” (Geller and Scott 1992, 157). “This is largely because of deployment practices and the fact that many African American officers tend to reside in ethnic neighborhoods and are more likely to become involved in an off-duty shooting than are White officers, based on the increased
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In a study conducted using data from 34 police agencies ranging in size and varying in location, researchers from the University of South Florida attempted to analyze a range of officers of broad personal characteristics to determine their control over the many variables that contribute to the use of force in a situation where force is in fact warranted and justified. As a result, recent studies conducted sampling the effects of higher education on police behavior, we are left with startling statistics in terms of lesser educated police officers and the use of force. Specifically, research has proven officer education is directly related to the probability of an officers use of force during an encounter, also noting that officers who possess four year degrees or higher are significantly less likely to use force in an encounter. An astonishing statistic from a 2008 study published in Criminal Justice and Behavior asserts that “officers with a college degree were more than 41% less likely to discharge their firearms than officers with a high school diploma or some college with no degree” (McElvain & Kposowa, 2008). Ultimately, results show that not only does having higher education result in officers using less force in otherwise demanding situations, it also shows a connection between tolerance in the diverse clientele that these officers
In a study conducted using data from 34 police agencies ranging in size and varying in location, researchers from the University of South Florida attempted to analyze a range of officers of broad personal characteristics to determine their control over the many variables that contribute to the use of force in a situation where force is in fact warranted and justified. As a result, recent studies conducted sampling the effects of higher education on police behavior, we are left with startling statistics in terms of lesser educated police officers and the use of force. Specifically, research has proven officer education is directly related to the probability of an officers use of force during an encounter, also noting that officers who possess four year degrees or higher are significantly less likely to use force in an encounter. An astonishing statistic from a 2008 study published in Criminal Justice and Behavior asserts that “officers with a college degree were more than 41% less likely to discharge their firearms than officers with a high school diploma or some college with no degree” (McElvain & Kposowa, 2008). Ultimately, results show that not only does having higher education result in officers using less force in otherwise demanding situations, it also shows a connection between tolerance in the diverse clientele that these officers