Methodology
The OIS database is a tool for instructors and administrators to take an evidenced-based/data-driven approach to firearms training. The current result of this research is an anonymized database of 25 OIS’s involving 40 officers who fired shots. The data spans 25 incidents from November 2020 through September 2023 involving 40 officers. For each officer the study tried to answer approximately 100 questions based on the investigative reports, interviews, video of the incident when available, and crime scene photographs. These questions focused on data points relevant to training, such as the lighting conditions, duty assignment, shooting position, and what the officer was doing prior to and during the shooting.
24 of the 25 incidents that were publicly available were fatal OIS investigations. The data may be skewed due to the lack of non-fatal OIS’s in the current dataset.
The study allows for cross-refencing and filtering to help determine trends, correlations, and relevance to a particular agency.
The OIS database is a work-in-progress with the goal of analyzing more incidents to discover trends and correlations when possible, and to make the findings readily accessible so trainers can make their own informed decisions.
Dynamic events cannot be reduced to a spreadsheet. The information on the Officer Performance Project website cannot be used to assess reasonableness.
Preserving the anonymity of the officers and agencies involved is key to collecting data to improve performance. Similar to the “just culture” approach in other professions, the Officer Performance Project encourages continuous improvement and learning from incidents rather than hiding them. It also acknowledges the unique difficulties of police work.
When interpreting this data, instructors will have to decide when and how much to train for what is probable vs what is possible. Although mastery of the probable should be prioritized over the possible; excluding rare, possible events is not advised.
Any data, charts, graphics, or other information from the Officer Performance Project or Officer Involved Shooting database may be reproduced for educational purposes with proper citation.
All commercial or other for-profit uses of the information from the Officer Performance Project or Officer Involved Shooting database must receive prior approval from contact@officerperformanceproject.com.