Shots Fired: The Misunderstandings, Misconceptions, and Myths about Police Shootings

by Joseph Loughlin, Kate Clark Flora

Today's media is filled with discussions about officer-involved shootings. Too often missing from that discussion are the police officers? voices and the reality of what happens in actual shooting incidents. Through actual interviews with involved officers, this book addresses common myths and misunderstandings about these shootings.

Shots Fired! is a journey ?behind the shield? and the experiences of the real human beings behind the badge. It explores true events through the participants? own eyes and takes readers inside the minds of officers during the actual event. The officers detail the roller coaster of emotions and severe trauma experienced during and after a shooting event.

Along with the intimate, in-depth explorations of the incidents themselves, the book touches the aftermath of police-involved shootings?the debriefings, internal and external investigations, and psychological evaluations. It challenges many commonly held assumptions created by the media such as the meaning of ?unarmed? and why the police can't just ?shoot him in the leg, ? creating an understanding that reaches beyond slogans such as ?hands up, don't shoot.?

The book is valuable reading for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of police shootings?officers and police departments, reporters and politicians, and the public who rely on the police to keep them safe.

Genres: Nonfiction

344 pages, Hardcover

Published October 24, 2017

About the author

Joseph K. Loughlin is a former Assistant Chief of Police for the city of Portland, Maine. He served as the interim Chief and retired from service in Jan. 2010 after 30 years of police work. He has the historic distinction of achieving and serving in every single sworn rank within the Portland Police Department. He is one of the the original founders of the peer support team and EAP network he helped create for assisting officers during periods of stress as well as formal in-service training programs on that topic. He developed policy for Critical Incident Stress debriefings for officers after traumatic events and specifically for police-involved shootings and use of deadly force. Joe also served as the Commander of the Special Reaction Team and was a team member for over 20 years. He was a spokesperson for the department and the Detective Lieutenant of the Criminal Investigation Division, which he considers a highlight of his career.
Joe is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Command training in Quantico, Virginia. He holds a Masters degree from University of Southern Maine and was acknowledged as distinguished Alumni. He is a graduate of St. Joseph's college in Standish Maine with a B.A. in Liberal arts and has been highlighted an accomplished alumni.
Joe is a published author of “Finding Amy" a Non –Fiction account of the Amy St. Laurent homicide case in 2001. He has authored multiple editorials and magazine articles on the realities of police work and has been passionate about educating society about the difficulties and demands of the profession. He has been dedicated to assisting and educating officers with the uniqueness of police stress and in developing positive coping skills. He currently consults for 3SI International Security Systems and functions as a regional coordinator of police trainings and special projects. Joe has authored many nationwide articles on GPS tracking for the company as well. He was on the ground floor of developing and moving forward the Electronic Stakeout for 3SI in capturing criminals and keeping police officers safe in their response to crimes in progress. He is also an entrepreneur and created a new business purveying his own family recipe, Loughlin’s Irish Steak Sauce. He is currently working on a new writing project about Officer Involved Shootings

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite a 3 star rating, this book is very meaningful and full of insight. While the narrative could be cleaned up and edited for better flow and less repetition, reading transcripts of police officers involved in shooting incidents was very enlightening.
Learn the reality and dispel the myths of Hollywood gun fights. How can the public expect officers to do their jobs safely when the realities of an officer's job is unknown to them? What have we learned from the current "epidemic" of gun violence?
Numerous officers give their first hand accounts of shooting incidents varying from a shoplifter call to squatters to the Boston Marathon bombers. I have no doubt your eyes will be opened after reading this book.
Foul language and violence make this a book for adults only.

* I received an advance reader's copy from Goodreads giveaways *

[Mrs. Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joseph Laughlin’s Shots Fired is utterly convincing. The vast majority of police officers don’t intend to shoot anybody, don’t want to shoot anybody, and are deeply distressed when forced by circumstances to shoot someone. The reason police abuse of force is in the news is because it is news - something that happens rarely enough to be remarkable when it does occur. Unfortunately, the generalization fallacy - that a small sample typifies an entire group - is so ingrained in human thinking that we do it virtually automatically. Every time we say dogs, or blacks, or men, or MAGAists ... or cops ... are/act/believe a certain way we are guilty of it.
The problem with Laughlin’s book is that it is repetitious and shallow, or more precisely, it is not very analytical. It does however make some good points. I was particularly impressed by the observation that “The public must accept that when they call the police, they will get a police response, not a psychiatric/sociological intervention.” It made me rethink some of my opinions about past police shootings. For that reason I recommend the book to people who “already know” how bad the police are. It doesn’t hurt any of us to get a more balanced view of real-life no-easy-solution issues.

[Ruth York · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in a giveaway on Goodreads. I looked forward to reading it. While I am not one who looks on our police as all evil, I felt that actually reading the words of those involved in shootings would further enlighten me. The book did not disappoint. It highlights the disparities our police forces face, in trying to cure societal ills, while also protecting that same society. As well as how responding to a seeming simple call can often quickly escalate, in seconds, into something much larger and tragic. The ideas in Loughlin's summary at the end, on what communities AND police forces can do to bridge the gaps in communication should implemented by all.

[Stephen Dorneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through interviews with the actual officers involved in police shootings from Portland, Maine to Jacksonville, Florida and many other communities as well (including, most famously, the shoot-out in Watertown, MA with the Boston Marathon bombers), Loughlin (with assistance from co-author Kate Flora) makes the case for greater understanding by the public in such cases, and for improved training, post-event follow-up care, and other support for the police forces and the officers themselves. But it is the voices of the officers that shine the brightest here as they remember the violent, extreme, often horrific and permanently scarring, events of those fateful days. Recommended.

[Mona Dempsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this, its amazing the courage of the men and women to put on that uniform, knowing everyday they can face tragedy, death of a partner, close friend, these are special people.

It makes one angry to see them hit with accusations, they do not get the support needed by the politicians who are so quick to condemn, only trying to make a name for themselves, and not concerned for the public these men and women have taken an oath to protect.
These good men and women are damned if they do, and damned if they don't.
God bless and protect each and everyone of them.

[Traci Navarrette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read about the realities of officer involved shootings, straight from officers involved in them. Unfortunately, the people in our society that need to read it the most to educate themselves...they won’t. “Yet in this time of political correctness, trigger words, microaggressions, safe spaces, and extreme sensitivity, no one seems to want to understand the police and recognize that they are human beings placed in impossible situations. Where is the sensitivity towards our guardians?”

[Mark Levandoski · Rating 3 out of 5]

The complete title of the book, says it all. Through the first hand accounts, of officer involved shootings, the authors give examples of these events. The physical and emotional side prior to and after, these life changing incidents are also delved into. Through these examples the book attempts to educate all involved,in what has become an increasingly polarized issue. I received this book for free as a win in the Goodreads Firstread Contest.

[D.B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the many grammatical errors throughout the book not only puzzling but they somehow, unfortunately, diminished the book’s credibility; thus the 3 stars. I say “unfortunately “ because I believe the book does a good job of presenting accurate glimpses into the side of law enforcement the public doesn’t see. I learned a few things about that side of law enforcement as well as my own stereotypes and feel I have a broader understanding of the situation. I’d recommend this book.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting insights into what officers go through when they are involved in a shooting incident. I admire these people for being willing and able to share something that had such an effect on their lives.
I have been to a Citizens Police Academy and done a ride along as a part of it and it isn’t like tv.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeper understanding of police shootings--with interviews with officers involved in real-life cases.

I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.

[Leon Laffredo · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all, great information, though redundantly presented.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With all that is going on now this is definitely a book everyone should read. As like anything else there are always two sides to the story and this side definitely does not get told often enough. I firmly believe that anyone who reads this book will come away with a new respect for law enforcement and the role they play in society. Great book.
I received this book as part of a good reads giveaway but the opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Cathy Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational book

As a retired police officer, who has been close to pulling the trigger while on-duty, this book was an eye opener. For people who aren't police officers should read, so they know what happens before, dying and after an OIS.