Assessing the impact of administrative policy on use of deadly force by on- and off-duty police

Deadly force research typically does not distinguish between shootings by o n-duty and off-duty police. This article uses Philadelphia police shooting data from two time periods (1970-1978 and 1987-1992) and a unique quasi-exp erimental design to examine the comparative effects upon on- and off-duty p olice shootings of an administrative policy that limited police shooting di scretion but that did not address questions of police weapons carrying and access to firearms. The article draws important distinctions between when t o shoot and carry administrative policies and considers their impact on dea dly force by on- and off-duty police.