ENCORE: S4E58 UNDERSTANDING DEADLY FORCE

🎧 Recommended Listening: Go Deeper on Deadly Force

If you’ve just listened to our bonus episode —Minnesota ICE Shooting: Former FBI Agent Explains the Deadly Force Standard — Was It Lawful? —and want to dig deeper into how deadly force decisions are actually made, this episode is the perfect companion.

To better understand the legal, psychological, and operational realities behind law enforcement use of deadly force, we recommend revisiting:

With Retired FBI Agent & Host of FBI Retired Case File Review, Jerri WilliamsStop the Killing Podcast | S4E58

In this powerful episode, hosts Sarah Ferris and Katherine Schweit are joined by Jerri Williams, a retired FBI agent with 26 years of service, to unpack what actually goes into a decision to fire a weapon — long before a single shot is ever taken.

While our Minnesota ICE bonus episode focuses on how deadly force is legally evaluated after the fact, this conversation fills in the gaps by explaining:

• What officers are trained to consider before force is used

• The FBI’s deadly force policy and decision framework

• The psychological burden of carrying a gun every day

• Why split-second decisions are shaped by training, stress, and threat perception

• Key differences between U.S. and UK law enforcement use-of-force standards

Together, these episodes give listeners a fuller picture of how deadly force decisions are made, reviewed, and judged — without political rhetoric or hindsight bias.

• [00:00:00] Why deadly force is so widely misunderstood

• [00:03:10] The FBI deadly force policy explained

• [00:14:00] The psychological weight of carrying a firearm

• [00:20:00] Making split-second life-or-death decisions

• [00:30:00] Real FBI case experiences involving deadly force

• FBI Retired Case File Review Podcast – hosted by Jerri Williams

• Early Access & Bonus Episodes: Apple Podcasts & Patreon

• WANT THE VIDEOS? Head to YouTube 👉 @SarahFerrisMedia

Resources & Links:

• Support us on Patreon for exclusive content and early access to episodes.

• Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts.

• More insights from Katherine Schweit: Katherine Schweit.

• Stop the Bleed training.

• FBI: RUN, HIDE, FIGHT.

• CrimeCon UK Tickets — Use DISCOUNT CODE “FERRIS” for a special offer!

Check out more from Sarah Ferris Media:

• CONmunity Podcast

• Klooghless: The Long Con

• Guilty Greenie

• Watching Two Detectives

• The Bravery Academy

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