Suicide by cop in North America: Victim-Precipitated Homicide (In: Suicide and Law Enforcement, edited by D C Sheehan & J I Warren)

This chapter examines the underlying causes of lethal threats against police personnel in North America that can be attributed directly to incidents of suicide-by-cop. Over 500 separate, documented incidents in which police personnel in the United States & Canada have been confronted by a potentially lethal threat are analyzed. In roughly 10% of fatal police shootings, officers reacted to a potentially lethal threat that was victim-precipitated & suicidal in nature. As a result, it is argued that the so-called victim must share some of the responsibility in police shootings. JA