Slips and capture

Slips and capture is a type of error that may occur in high-stress situations. According to studies in the psychology of human error to improve medicine and business, a person may inadvertently perform one action while intending to do another.<ref> ,

 Tulsa shooting: Deputy Robert Bates charged Full text, 
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 CNN.com, 
 2015-04-14,

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The term "slips and capture" became more widely known in the early 21st century in the United States, after being referred to by law enforcement in two prominent fatal police shooting cases in 2009 and 2015. In both cases, the police officer claimed to have shot a suspect while intending to use a Taser.<ref>

Tulsa Officer Says He Mistook Handgun for Taser(link). {{{website}}}. wsj.com.

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Officials call shooting a "slips and capture" event(link). {{{website}}}. One News Page.

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Oklahoma Deputy Tells Dying Man Shot by Accident, "Fuck Your Breath," as he Gasps His Final Breaths – PINAC(link). {{{website}}}. Photographyisnotacrime.com.

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Background and history

The concept of "slips and capture" has been studied in the psychology of human error, and efforts to prevent error.<ref name="slips">

Intro to the psychology of human error and medical errors(link). {{{website}}}. HumanFactorsMD.

</ref> It was thoroughly described in 1990 by James Reason.<ref name="design">

Human error – slips and mistakes(link). {{{website}}}. Interaction Design Foundation.

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The concept has been addressed in efforts to improve business, including computer and program design,<ref name="design"/><ref>

Skill, Rule, and Knowledge-Based Behaviours and Errors(link). {{{website}}}. Crew Resource Management.

</ref> and medical practices in order to avoid preventable error.<ref>

Patient Safety Tip of the Week Archive(link). {{{website}}}. Patient Safety Solutions.

</ref> Both terms are used in error terminology:<ref>

Glossary of Error-Proofing Terms(link). {{{website}}}. Mistakeproofing.com.

</ref> slips are defined as "errors in the performance of skill-based behaviors, typically when our attention is diverted;"<ref name="slips" /> and capture refers to "a type of slip where a more frequent and more practiced behavior takes place when a similar, but less familiar, action was intended."<ref>

Usability First – Usability Glossary – capture error(link). {{{website}}}.

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Shooting of Oscar Grant

Main article: BART Police shooting of Oscar Grant

Early on New Year's Day of 2009, Oscar Grant III was fatally shot by Bay Area Rapid Transit officer Johannes Mehserle, who was detaining the young man with others after a reported fight on the train.<ref>

Court Gives Oscar Grant's Father OK To Sue Ex-BART Cop For Fatal Shooting « CBS San Francisco(link). {{{website}}}. CBSlocal.com San Francisco. 2013-07-30.

</ref> At his bail hearing in late January 2009, Mehserle said that he had intended to use his Taser, but inadvertently grabbed his pistol instead.<ref>

Violence after California police shooting trial verdict – BBC News(link). {{{website}}}. Bbc.com. 2010.

</ref><ref name="bulwa130"> Bulwa, Demian,

 Skeptical judge grants bail to former BART cop Full text, 
 , 
 San Francisco Chronicle, 
 January 30, 2009,

</ref> In 2010 a jury convicted Mehserle of involuntary manslaughter, acquitting him of charges of voluntary manslaughter.

The phrase "slips and capture" was used by Bill Lewinski in 2009, a consultant in police use of force who was part of Mehserle's defense team. Lewinski was reported by the Wall Street Journal to have a doctorate in psychology from Union Institute & University, an online college.<ref>

Expert in deadly force training criticized for record on police shootings(link). {{{website}}}. Host.madison.com. 2014-07-31.

</ref> His company, Force Science Institute, specializes in consulting to police departments. Its website advertises: "We save lives and reputations."<ref>

About Force Science(link). {{{website}}}. Forcescience.org. 2014-02-03.

</ref> Lewinski published a newsletter article on the "Slips and Capture" theory in his "Force Science News #154" after he began work on the defense of Mehserle.<ref>

Force Science explains "slips-and-capture errors"...(link). {{{website}}}.

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Shooting of Eric Courtney Harris

Main article: Shooting of Eric Courtney Harris

44-year-old Eric Courtney Harris was shot to death April 2, 2015 by Tulsa city police during an undercover sting in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As Harris was being subdued, Tulsa County Reserve Deputy Robert Charles "Bob" Bates, 73, fatally shot Harris in the back, according to the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. Bates used the concept of "slips and capture" in his defense, saying that he had intended to use his Taser on Harris.<ref name="tulsaworld1">

Sources: Supervisors told to falsify reserve deputy's training records; department announces internal review(link). {{{website}}}. Tulsaworld.com. 2015.

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Video of fatal shooting by reserve deputy shown at Sheriff's Office press conference(link). {{{website}}}. Tulsaworld.com. 2015.

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During a CNN interview in 2015, after this term was used by the Tulsa Police Department in reference to the fatal shooting of Eric Courtney Harris, a criminal justice expert said that there was no scientific basis for the theory of "slip and capture". He said most courts would reject the argument as inadmissible.<ref>

How easy is it to confuse a gun for a Taser? - CNN.com(link). {{{website}}}. Edition.cnn.com. 2015-04-21.

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