Applying Signal Detection in Police Fatal Encounters with Racial Minorities

The goal of this study is to examine police personnel performance in terms of the disproportionate use of lethal force against racial minorities in the United States. More specifically, we want to better understand the conditions where we are likely to observe disproportionality against racial minority suspects using signal detection theory. When examining fatal encounters, we found that even though White officers are not likely to target Black suspects, in general, the disproportionality of Black victims emerges when the victim has an issued warrant. The study suggests that disproportionate police fatal encounters against Black suspects may emerge under specific circumstances. We conclude our study by discussing the implications for police personnel behavior and performance in bureaucratic decision-making using the tenets of signal detection.