Evaluation of the New York City Police Department Firearm Training and Firearm-Discharge Review Process

by Rostker, Bernard D.; Hanser, Lawrence M.; Hix, William M.; Jensen, Carl; Morral, Andrew R.

• ISBN13: 9780833044167
• ISBN10: 0833044168
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-06-19
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

"In January 2007, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly asked the RAND Corporation to assess whether his department was doing everything it could to minimize the unnecessary discharge of firearms. In particular, he asked RAND to examine the quality and completeness of the New York City Police Department firearm-training program and identify potential improvements in the design and delivery of the curriculum, the technology used, the frequency and duration of training sessions, the tactics and procedures on which the training is based, and the Department's firearm-discharge-review process. This monograph reports the observations, findings, and recommendations of that study."--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. iii
Figures	p. ix
Tables	p. xi
Executive	p. xiii
Abbreviations	p. xxvii
Introduction	p. 1
Background and Study Objective	p. 1
Study Approach	p. 2
Organization of This Monograph	p. 4
Firearm-Discharge Policy and Experience in New York City	p. 7
Introduction	p. 7
Use of Force Is an Essential Part of Policing	p. 7
Matching Force to the Nature of the Situation	p. 9
Use of Deadly Force: A Changing Paradigm	p. 10
Efforts to Control the Use of Deadly Force	p. 11
NYPD Policy on the Use of Deadly Force	p. 12
Firearm-Discharge Statistics	p. 13
Training	p. 17
Introduction	p. 17
Overview of NYPD Training	p. 17
Recruit Training	p. 18
Field Training	p. 22
In-Service Training	p. 23
Method of Assessment	p. 24
A Framework For Assessing the Quality of Training	p. 24
Application of the Framework	p. 25
Assessment of Recruit Training	p. 25
Options to Improve Recruit Training	p. 31
Observations and Assessment of In-Service Training	p. 35
In-Service Baton Training	p. 35
Refreshes Firearm Training and Requalification	p. 35
Summary and Recommendations	p. 37
Basic Recruit Training	p. 38
In-Service Training	p. 39
The Firearm-Discharge Investigation and Review Process	p. 41
Introduction	p. 41
Current Procedures	p. 41
Assessment of the Process	p. 42
Recommendations	p. 44
Focus of the Firearm-Discharge Investigation Should Be Expanded to Include a Formal Review of the Tactics Used	p. 44
There Needs to Be a Formal Lessons-Learned Process	p. 45
There Is a Need to Better Adhere to Stipulated Formats	p. 45
There Is a Need for Synthesis in Final Reports	p. 46
Analysis of Factors Associated with NYPD Officers Discharging Their Firearms	p. 47
Introduction	p. 47
Data Sources	p. 48
Methods	p. 49
Findings	p. 50
Summary	p. 55
The Need for an Improved Less-Than-Lethal Standoff Weapon	p. 57
Introduction	p. 57
The Tactics of Taking Control: Controlling an Uncooperative Subject	p. 57
Physical Force	p. 58
Drawing or Displaying a Firearm	p. 59
Less-Than-Lethal Force	p. 61
Other Less-Than-Lethal Alternatives: Conducted-Energy Devices	p. 64
What Is a Conducted-Energy Device?	p. 64
How Are They Supposed to Be Used?	p. 65
How Effective Have CEDs Been?	p. 67
Several National Organization Object to the Use of TASER Devices	p. 71
Arrest-Related Deaths and Excited Delirium	p. 76
Recommendations for CEDs and OC Spray	p. 78
Other, Less-Than-Lethal Alternatives: Impact Munitions	p. 78
Super-Sock Rounds	p. 80
Spongs Rounds	p. 80
Recommendations for the Deployment of Impact Munitions	p. 80
Other Innovative Technologies	p. 81
Introduction	p. 81
Laser Sights	p. 82
Recmmendation	p. 84
Handgun-Mounted Flashlights	p. 84
Recmmendation	p. 86
Reflexive Shooting	p. 87
Introduction	p. 87
Understaning Reflexive Shootings	p. 87
Training to Reduce Reflexive Shooting	p. 88
Documenting Reflexive Shootings	p. 89
Recommendations	p. 90
Summary of Findings and Recommendations	p. 91
Introduction	p. 91
Training	p. 91
Findings	p. 91
Recommendations	p. 92
FDRB Investigation and Reporting	p. 93
Findings	p. 93
Recommendations	p. 94
Analysis of Factors Associated with NYPD Officers Discharging Their Firearms	p. 95
Findings	p. 95
Recommendations	p. 95
Need for an Improved Less-Than-Lethal Standoff Weapon	p. 96
Findings	p. 96
Recommendations	p. 97
Other Innovative Technologies	p. 97
Findings	p. 97
Recommendations	p. 98
Reflexive Shooting	p. 98
Findings	p. 98
Recommendations	p. 99
Appendix
Data and Methodology	p. 101
Refrences	p. 105
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