Year: 1993 Source: Law and Order, (July 1993), p.105-109 SIEC No: 19980362

This article discusses the “suicide-by-cop” phenomenon in which individuals engage in behaviours which force the police to kill them. A clinical interpretation offers a number of explanations for this behaviour. Geberth briefly discusses how police officers can handle these incidents when hostages have been taken. The case history of an ex-police officer who caused his former colleagues to kill him is presented. The psychological ramifications of these cases are described.