A thorough discussion of "wound ballistics" serves to emphasize the realities and constraints that arise, illustrating that officers do not possess a reliable means of instantaneously stopping a perceived threat and explaining why officers are trained to fire multiple shots. There are additional chapters that discuss tactics and training, physiological factors of high intensity stress, suicide by cop, the effects of policy and training on the ability of officers to make appropriate decisions regarding the use of force, and much more. Numerous case histories are cited to illustrate the points made.
Undoubtedly, the expertise of the authors is the most unique aspect of this book. With their combined experience of almost 60 years in the FBI as Special Agents and FBI Academy instructors, Patrick and Hall’s expertise reflects a blend of the legal with the practical that is unprecedented. It is also faithful to the admonition of the Supreme Court of the United States that a proper review of this topic must be from the "perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene." The book stands alone as a source of information for the law enforcement, legal, and educational communities. It will also be of great interest and benefit to the media, and to the general reader who is interested in this important and frequently controversial topic.
