Abstract
Police use of deadly force is a frequent topic of discussion among police as well as civilians. The study of this phenomenon is difficult due to the scarcity of observed high‐risk encounters in the field. This article, which reports on research that employs simulated high‐risk scenarios of the Firearms Training System (FATS), explores one aspect of police shooting behavior: the relationship between length of service and officer shooting behavior. Results indicate that in some instances characteristics of the situation and the officer affect rookie and veteran shooting behavior differently. Specifically, in life‐threatening situations, suspect demographic factors, such as race, gender, and age, have different effects on officer shooting behavior depending on whether the officer is a veteran or a rookie. Additionally, situational factors such as multiple suspects involved in an encounter significantly influences officer shooting behavior for both rookie and veteran officers. In terms of non‐life‐threatening situations, in which the suspect poses no immediate threat toward the officer or the bystander, rookies and veterans show no difference in withholding fire while reacting.
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