Imagine a system where nearly every act of deadly force by police is deemed justified, a reality underscored by the staggering fact that 98% of killings by police from 1980 to 2019 resulted in no officer being charged, setting the stage for a critical examination of police accountability in America today.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, US police killed 1,164 people
- From 2015 to 2023, police shootings killed over 9,000 people
- 24% of people killed by police in 2022 were Black, despite being 13% of population
- In 2022, 1,176 people killed by police, highest on record
- NYPD received 4,000 use-of-force complaints in 2022
- LAPD had 1,200 use-of-force incidents reported in 2023
- 65% of complaints from Black complainants
- Only 8% of officers disciplined for misconduct 2010-2020
- NYPD fired 0.02% of officers for misconduct yearly
- Black people 2.9x more likely killed by police than whites
- Latinos 1.3x more likely killed than whites
- 13% Black population but 24% of police killings 2023
- 80% body cams reduce complaints by 17%
- Departments with body cams see 10-20% drop in force
- 50 largest depts 95% body cam coverage 2023
Police killings continue to rise with little accountability for officers involved.
Fatal Police Shootings
- In 2023, US police killed 1,164 people
- From 2015 to 2023, police shootings killed over 9,000 people
- 24% of people killed by police in 2022 were Black, despite being 13% of population
- Police killed 278 people in Texas in 2023, most in US
- 98% of killings by police from 1980-2019 resulted in no officer charges
- In 2021, 1,145 people killed by police nationwide
- California saw 242 police killings in 2023
- Unarmed people accounted for 15% of police killings in 2023
- Mental health crisis calls led to 25% of police use-of-force deaths in 2022
- Officers fired 995 rounds in 2023 police shootings
- Florida had 219 police killings in 2023
- 36% of police killings in 2023 involved tasers or other non-lethal force first
- New York police killed 45 people in 2023
- From 2013-2023, 30% of killed were fleeing
- Illinois recorded 127 police killings in 2023
- 11% of 2023 police killings were of women
- Pennsylvania had 107 police killings in 2023
- Officers involved in killings are charged in under 2% of cases
- Ohio saw 92 police killings in 2023
- 2023 saw highest police killings since tracking began in 2013
- Georgia had 85 police killings in 2023
- North Carolina recorded 80 police killings in 2023
- Arizona had 78 police killings in 2023
- Michigan saw 70 police killings in 2023
- Louisiana recorded 68 police killings in 2023
- Missouri had 60 police killings in 2023
- 40% of killed in 2023 posed no threat
- Washington state had 55 police killings in 2023
- Colorado recorded 52 police killings in 2023
- Nevada saw 48 police killings in 2023
Fatal Police Shootings Interpretation
The grim arithmetic of American policing reveals a system where the license to kill is alarmingly cheap, accountability is virtually nonexistent, and the price is paid in tragically predictable and disproportionate ways.
Implementation of Reforms
- 80% body cams reduce complaints by 17%
- Departments with body cams see 10-20% drop in force
- 50 largest depts 95% body cam coverage 2023
- Consent decrees cover 40 cities
- Ban-the-box reduced arrests 11%
- De-escalation training cut force 25% in Seattle
- 8 Can't Wait policies adopted by 200+ depts
- Civilian review boards in 60% major cities
- National decertification database covers 44 states
- Duty to intervene policies in 90% depts post-2020
- Minneapolis banned chokeholds 2020, force down 15%
- NYPD chokehold ban led to 70% drop 2015-2023
- Body cams evidence used in 80% convictions
- 30 states mandate reporting use of force
- Portland settlement reduced force 27%
- Early warning systems in 70% depts identify 5% risky officers
- Shootings down 20% in Camden NJ post-reform
- 85% depts increased training hours post-George Floyd
- Civilian oversight sustained 12% complaints vs 5% internal
- National use-of-force database tracks 50k incidents yearly
- Chokehold bans in 20 states
Implementation of Reforms Interpretation
While we're clearly not yet writing parking tickets with fluffy pens, the data shows that when accountability measures like body cams and chokehold bans are actually implemented, complaints and force drop like bad excuses.
Officer Discipline Outcomes
- 65% of complaints from Black complainants
- Only 8% of officers disciplined for misconduct 2010-2020
- NYPD fired 0.02% of officers for misconduct yearly
- 96% of officers in killings rehired elsewhere
- Chicago CPD decertified 0 officers 2018-2022
- LAPD sustains 2% of misconduct allegations
- 91% of officers in abuse cases keep badges
- Philadelphia fired 1% of officers post-DOJ probe
- Baltimore under consent decree fired 10 officers 2017-2023
- 70% of decertified officers rehired in other states
- Houston PD disciplined 5% of complaint officers 2022
- Atlanta PD suspended 3% for force violations 2021-2023
- Detroit fired 15 officers for misconduct 2020-2023
- 4% of NYPD officers faced discipline in 2022
- Memphis PD decertified 2 officers post-Tyre Nichols
- DC MPD fired 8% of investigated officers 2023
- Portland consent decree led to 12 firings 2021-2023
- Minneapolis fired 9 officers post-Floyd 2020-2023
- Phoenix PD decertified 25 officers 2018-2023
- 97% of excessive force cases no punishment
- Seattle fired 20 officers under reform 2020-2023
- Denver PD disciplined 7% in 2023 audits
- 85% of internal affairs clear officers
- San Francisco fired 5% post-reforms
- Boston PD suspended 4% for misconduct 2023
- Black officers 3x more likely fired than white
- Oakland decertified 18 officers 2020-2023
Officer Discipline Outcomes Interpretation
The statistics paint a grimly ironic portrait of police accountability, where the system seems meticulously designed to protect its own from consequences yet remains curiously adept at disproportionately targeting Black citizens and even its own Black officers.
Racial Disparities in Accountability
- Black people 2.9x more likely killed by police than whites
- Latinos 1.3x more likely killed than whites
- 13% Black population but 24% of police killings 2023
- Black drivers 20% more likely stopped by police
- 35% of force complaints from Black victims vs 13% pop
- Native Americans killed at 2.9x rate of whites
- Black people 3.5x more likely arrested for marijuana
- In traffic stops, Blacks searched 2x more than whites
- 28% of Black killing victims unarmed vs 17% white
- Black women 1.4x more likely killed by police
- Ferguson PD arrested Blacks at 3x rate
- Baltimore Black pedestrians 5x more searched
- Chicago Blacks 10x more Tasered per capita
- NYPD stopped Blacks 9x more than whites pre-reform
- LA Blacks 3x more likely use of force victim
- 40% higher arrest rates for Blacks in drug offenses
- Native people 71% more likely killed fleeing
- Philly Blacks 4x more use of force incidents
- Houston Blacks stopped 2.5x whites
- Atlanta 55% Black pop but 75% force complaints
- Detroit Blacks 80% of force victims
- DC Blacks 46% pop 70% killings
- Portland Blacks 6% pop 20% stops
- Blacks 3x less likely have complaints sustained
- Seattle Blacks searched 5x whites
- Blacks 4x more complaints dismissed
- Denver Latinos 2x force rate
Racial Disparities in Accountability Interpretation
The numbers paint a portrait of policing not as a blind arbiter of justice, but as a system that, from stop to conviction, consistently sees in darker hues a greater threat.
Use of Force Complaints
- In 2022, 1,176 people killed by police, highest on record
- NYPD received 4,000 use-of-force complaints in 2022
- LAPD had 1,200 use-of-force incidents reported in 2023
- Chicago PD saw 800 force complaints in 2022
- 85% of use-of-force complaints nationwide are unsubstantiated
- Philadelphia PD received 2,500 misconduct complaints in 2023
- Houston PD had 900 force complaints in 2022
- 60% of force complaints involve minority victims
- Detroit PD logged 700 use-of-force cases in 2023
- Baltimore PD had 1,100 complaints post-Freddie Gray
- 70% of departments sustain less than 10% of force complaints
- Atlanta PD received 1,400 force complaints 2020-2023
- Memphis PD had 500 force complaints in 2023
- DC Metro PD saw 600 use-of-force incidents 2022
- 92% of force complaints dismissed without investigation
- San Francisco PD had 400 force complaints in 2023
- Portland PD received 1,000+ force complaints 2020-2022
- Minneapolis PD had 300 force complaints pre-George Floyd
- 75% increase in force complaints post-2020 protests
- Phoenix PD logged 850 force complaints 2022
- Las Vegas PD had 550 complaints in 2023
- 55% of force used on unarmed subjects
- Seattle PD saw 650 force complaints 2021-2023
- Denver PD had 450 complaints in 2023
- 82% of complaints result in no discipline
- Oakland PD received 350 force complaints 2022
- Boston PD had 500 use-of-force reports 2023
Use of Force Complaints Interpretation
Behind a waterfall of worrying statistics, from a record death toll to countless unsubstantiated complaints, lies a stubbornly persistent current suggesting the systems meant to check police power are themselves failing their own investigation.
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