6.8. Current Issues: Police Shootings 
TIFFANY MOREY 
One of the most controversial issues in regards to policing in the 21st century are police shootings. The 
‘police shooting’ topic causes much debate and is always in the headlines of every media outlet when 
it occurs. After an officer-involved shooting, citizens want answers, rightfully so. Unfortunately, police 
departments cannot immediately provide those answers. The all too familiar ‘no comment’ or ‘we do not 
have any information at this time’ or only providing limited facts, does not appease saddened or angry family 
members or the general public. 
Police departments cannot comment because they may genuinely not know the entire story. Police unions 
are there to protect officers, and the officers need time between the shooting and when they are required 
to write the police report on the incident and answer questions about the shooting for a variety of reasons. 
Therefore, directly after the shooting, when the media or the general public wants answers, there might not 
be any answers known to give. However, this immediately reads as the department has something to hide. 
Whether that is true does not matter in the eyes of many. An investigation must occur before the department 
can make a formal statement, and release body camera or dash mounted camera footage and information 
about the shooting. All too often though, this information comes too late. 
One case that signifies this all too well is the officer-involved shooting and killing of Michael Brown, in 
Ferguson, Missouri. 
1 
In the News: Michael Brown- Ferguson Missouri – Officer Involved Shooting 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2104nz_h5A 
1. Department of Justice. (2015). Department of Justice report regarding the criminal investigation into the shooting death of Michael Brown by 
Ferguson, Missouri police Officer Darren Wilson. Washington, DC: Department of Justice. 
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