Killing the Police: Myths and Motives

Abstract

This article analyzes the situational motives of assailants who kill New York City police in the line of duty. Contrary to popular opinion, police are not often killed during domestic disturbances nor are they the seemingly senseless victims of madmen or lunatics. Rather, New York police are more likely to be killed by rational robbers fleeing the scene of a crime, who routinely use potentially lethal weapons as "tools of the trade."