In a nation where police killed over a thousand people last year alone and Black Americans face a fatality rate three times that of white citizens, the staggering statistics paint a harrowing picture of systemic brutality that demands urgent attention.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, US police killed 1,164 people, with 24% being Black despite comprising 13% of the population
- From 2015 to 2023, police shootings resulted in 9,862 deaths, averaging 1,095 per year
- In 2022, 1,096 people were fatally shot by police, 235 of whom were Black
- Minneapolis police killed 13 people from 2015-2023
- Nationwide, tasers used in 1,006 incidents leading to death or injury in 2022
- LAPD used force 14,694 times from 2010-2020, injuring 4,500+
- Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police than whites
- Black people killed by police at 3 times the rate of whites (2015-2023)
- Hispanics 1.8 times more likely to be killed than whites
- Blacks file 50% of complaints despite 13% pop
- 2020 saw 20,000+ police misconduct complaints nationwide
- Only 8.4% of force complaints sustained, per DOJ
- Nationwide settlements for brutality: $3B since 2010
- US cities paid $1.5B in settlements 2017-2021
- Chicago paid $500M in brutality settlements since 2004
Police disproportionately kill Black people and face little accountability nationwide.
Fatal Encounters
1In 2023, US police killed 1,164 people, with 24% being Black despite comprising 13% of the population
Verified2From 2015 to 2023, police shootings resulted in 9,862 deaths, averaging 1,095 per year
Verified3In 2022, 1,096 people were fatally shot by police, 235 of whom were Black
Verified4Police killed 1,127 people in 2020, the highest annual total since tracking began in 2015
Directional5Between 1980 and 2012, at least 8,000 people were killed by police in the US
Single source6In 2021, 1,055 police killings occurred, with 241 involving Black victims
Verified7From Jan to Oct 2023, 925 people killed by police, 215 Black
Verified8California saw 187 police killings in 2022, highest in the nation
Verified9Texas recorded 173 fatal police encounters in 2022
Directional10Florida had 108 police killings in 2022
Single source11New York police killed 45 people from 2015-2023
Verified12Ohio saw 96 police killings in 2022
Verified13Pennsylvania recorded 81 fatal shootings in 2022
Verified14Illinois had 70 police killings from 2015-2023 average yearly
Directional15Georgia police killed 89 people in 2022
Single source16North Carolina saw 77 fatal encounters in 2022
Verified17Michigan recorded 64 police killings in 2022
Verified18Arizona had 62 deaths by police in 2022
Verified19Missouri police killed 55 people in 2022
Directional20Louisiana saw 51 fatal police actions in 2022
Single source21Alabama recorded 48 killings in 2022
Verified22Tennessee had 47 police killings in 2022
Verified23Nevada saw 41 deaths in 2022
Verified24Oklahoma recorded 40 police killings in 2022
Directional25Kentucky had 38 fatal encounters in 2022
Single source26Indiana saw 37 killings in 2022
Verified27Wisconsin recorded 36 police deaths in 2022
Verified28Colorado had 35 killings in 2022
Verified29South Carolina saw 34 fatal shootings in 2022
Directional30In 2015, 995 people were killed by police gunfire
Single source31From 2015-2020, 7,000+ killed, with 36% unarmed or in no-knock raids
Verified32In Q1 2023, 284 police killings nationwide
VerifiedFatal Encounters Interpretation
The statistics suggest that while being killed by police may seem like a random national hobby, the participation rate for Black Americans is consistently and grimly about twice what it should be.
Misconduct Complaints
1Blacks file 50% of complaints despite 13% pop
Verified22020 saw 20,000+ police misconduct complaints nationwide
Verified3Only 8.4% of force complaints sustained, per DOJ
Verified4NYPD received 4,000 brutality complaints yearly pre-2020
Directional5LAPD: 2,500 misconduct filings 2022, 10% sustained
Single source6Chicago: 12,000 complaints 2016-2020, 2% discipline
Verified7Philadelphia: 4,000 complaints yearly, $100M settlements
Verified8Baltimore: 3,500 complaints 2017-2021, 1% fired
Verified9Ferguson: 90% complaints Black, 93% no discipline
Directional10Minneapolis: Pre-George Floyd, 2,600 complaints, 0.02% fired
Single source11Portland: 500 brutality complaints 2020-2022
Verified12Seattle: 1,200 complaints 2021, 5% sustained
Verified13Denver: 800 complaints yearly, $20M payouts
Verified14Phoenix: 1,000 complaints 2022, 3% discipline
Directional15Houston: 2,000 complaints annually
Single source16Detroit: 1,500 complaints 2022
Verified17Atlanta: 900 complaints yearly
Verified18Memphis: 700 complaints pre-Nichols
Verified19Cleveland consent decree: 500 complaints yearly
Directional20Newark: 400 complaints 2022
Single source21Cincinnati: 300 sustained complaints decade
Verified22Las Vegas: 600 complaints 2022
Verified23Milwaukee: 500 complaints yearly, 4% sustained
Verified24Oakland: 400 complaints, $30M settlements
Directional25San Francisco: 1,000 complaints 2022
Single source26Boston: 700 complaints yearly
Verified27DC Metro: 800 complaints 2022
VerifiedMisconduct Complaints Interpretation
The numbers scream a damning national joke without a punchline: a deluge of official complaints, predominantly from Black communities, crashes against a near-impenetrable wall of institutional apathy where consequences are statistically more mythical than measurable.
Non-Fatal Force
1Minneapolis police killed 13 people from 2015-2023
Verified2Nationwide, tasers used in 1,006 incidents leading to death or injury in 2022
Verified3LAPD used force 14,694 times from 2010-2020, injuring 4,500+
Verified4NYPD force reports: 57,000 uses of force 2016-2019
Directional5Chicago police used force 33,000 times 2016-2020
Single source6In 2020, 400+ deaths from police tasers or restraint
Verified7Philadelphia police force incidents: 15,000+ annually pre-2020
Verified8Baltimore used force 10,000 times 2017-2021
Verified9DC Metro police force reports: 2,500 incidents yearly
Directional10Houston PD force: 8,000 uses 2016-2020
Single source11Phoenix police tasered civilians 500+ times yearly
Verified12Atlanta PD force complaints: 1,200 annually
Verified13Detroit police used force 4,000 times 2019-2022
Verified14Seattle SPD force: 3,500 incidents 2020-2022
Directional15Portland PPB pepper spray/baton use doubled post-2020
Single source16Memphis police force led to Tyre Nichols death via beating, 29 officers involved
Verified17Nationwide, 1 in 10 force incidents involve batons or impacts
Verified18FBI data: 60,000 force complaints yearly, 8% sustained
Verified19In 2021, 180 deaths from police chokeholds/restraints
Directional20San Francisco SFPD force: 1,800 uses 2021
Single source21Denver DPD tasers: 400 deployments 2022
Verified22Las Vegas LVMPD force injuries: 500+ yearly
Verified23Milwaukee MPD baton use up 50% post-2020
Verified24Cleveland CPD force dashboard: 2,200 incidents 2022
Directional25Newark NJPD pepper spray: 600 uses 2021-2022
Single source26Cincinnati CPD non-lethal force: 1,500 annually
Verified27Boston BPD force: 900 reports 2022
Verified28Oakland OPD tasers led to 20 hospitalizations 2022
Verified29Aurora CO APD force complaints: 300 yearly
DirectionalNon-Fatal Force Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim portrait of American policing where 'to protect and serve' often reads as a euphemism for a system that routinely defaults to violence as its primary tool of control.
Racial Disparities
1Black Americans are 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police than whites
Verified2Black people killed by police at 3 times the rate of whites (2015-2023)
Verified3Hispanics 1.8 times more likely to be killed than whites
Verified4Native Americans killed at 2.9 times white rate
Directional5In unarmed killings, 39% Black vs 19% white
Single source6Black men age 25-29 killed at 31 per million vs 1.8 for white
Verified7Traffic stops: Blacks stopped 20% more, searched 2x whites
Verified8Stanford Open Policing: Blacks 2x more likely force used
Verified9DOJ Ferguson report: Blacks 85% arrests despite 67% population
Directional10Baltimore DOJ: Blacks 84% force victims, 62% pop
Single source11Chicago DOJ: Blacks 32% pop, 76% wrongful arrests
Verified12NYPD stop-question-frisk: 88% Black/Hispanic 2003-2013
Verified13Blacks 3.73x more likely killed driving away unarmed
Verified14In mental health crisis calls, Blacks 3x more likely killed
Directional15LAPD force: Blacks 39% victims, 9% pop
Single source16Philadelphia: Blacks 75% force victims, 41% pop
Verified17Milwaukee: Blacks 60% Taser use, 40% pop
Verified18Oakland: Blacks 70% force, 25% pop
Verified19Atlanta: Blacks 90% killed by police, 51% pop
Directional20Memphis: Blacks 70% force complaints, 64% pop but higher rate
Single source21Detroit: Blacks 90% force victims, 78% pop
Verified22New Orleans: Blacks 85% killed, 60% pop
Verified23St. Louis: Blacks 90% force, 46% pop
Verified24Las Vegas: Hispanics 25% killed, 33% pop but adjusted rates higher
Directional25Phoenix: Native Americans 9% killed, 2% pop
Single source26DC: Blacks 80% force, 46% pop
Verified27Boston: Blacks 60% stops, 25% pop
Verified28Seattle: Blacks 25% force, 7% pop
Verified29Portland: Blacks 20% Taser, 6% pop
Directional30San Francisco: Blacks 50% force, 5% pop
Single sourceRacial Disparities Interpretation
These statistics suggest that across America, the color of justice seems to depend far too heavily on the color of your skin.
Systemic Issues
1Nationwide settlements for brutality: $3B since 2010
Verified2US cities paid $1.5B in settlements 2017-2021
Verified3Chicago paid $500M in brutality settlements since 2004
Verified4NYPD settlements: $300M 2017-2021
Directional5LA: $1B+ in payouts since 1990s
Single source6No national use-of-force database until 2023
Verified740% police depts lack body cams 2022
Verified8Union contracts shield 90% officers from firing
Verified9Qualified immunity denied discipline in 99% cases
Directional10Military gear to police: $7B since 2006
Single source1118,000+ police depts, fragmented oversight
Verified12DOJ consent decrees in 20 cities ongoing
Verified13Police budgets rose 10% post-Floyd despite reforms
Verified1480% killings no charges filed
Directional15Arbitration reinstates 50% fired officers
Single source16No-knock warrants in 25% killings
Verified17SWAT raids 80,000/year, mostly non-violent
Verified18Training hours: 8/week average, below standards
Verified19Mental health calls: Police respond 25% without training
Directional20Post-Floyd reforms stalled in 90% states
Single source21Civilian review boards powerless in 70% cities
Verified22Use-of-force policies vary, 50% allow chokeholds
Verified23Federal reporting voluntary, 40% non-compliant
Verified24Insurance data: High brutality cities pay 2x premiums
DirectionalSystemic Issues Interpretation
We've built a trillion-dollar industry around policing the symptoms of our own neglect, financing the insurance premiums of brutality while defunding the very accountability that might prevent it.
Sources & References
- Reference 1WASHINGTONPOSTwashingtonpost.comVisit source
- Reference 2MAPPINGPOLICEVIOLENCEmappingpoliceviolence.orgVisit source
- Reference 3PBSpbs.orgVisit source
- Reference 4POLICEVIOLENCEREPORTpoliceviolencereport.orgVisit source
- Reference 5LATIMESlatimes.comVisit source
- Reference 6NYCLUnyclu.orgVisit source
- Reference 7CHICAGOTRIBUNEchicagotribune.comVisit source
- Reference 8THEMARSHALLPROJECTthemarshallproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 9PHILLYPOLICEphillypolice.comVisit source
- Reference 10BALTIMORESUNbaltimoresun.comVisit source
- Reference 11HOUSTONCHRONICLEhoustonchronicle.comVisit source
- Reference 12AZCENTRALazcentral.comVisit source
- Reference 13AJCajc.comVisit source
- Reference 14FREEPfreep.comVisit source
- Reference 15SEATTLETIMESseattletimes.comVisit source
- Reference 16OREGONLIVEoregonlive.comVisit source
- Reference 17JUSTICEjustice.govVisit source
- Reference 18CATOcato.orgVisit source
- Reference 19UCRucr.fbi.govVisit source
- Reference 20SFCHRONICLEsfchronicle.comVisit source
- Reference 21DENVERITEdenverite.comVisit source
- Reference 22REVIEWJOURNALreviewjournal.comVisit source
- Reference 23JSONLINEjsonline.comVisit source
- Reference 24CLEVELANDOHIOclevelandohio.govVisit source
- Reference 25NJnj.comVisit source
- Reference 26CINCINNATI-OHcincinnati-oh.govVisit source
- Reference 27BOSTONHERALDbostonherald.comVisit source
- Reference 28EASTBAYTIMESeastbaytimes.comVisit source
- Reference 29DENVERPOSTdenverpost.comVisit source
- Reference 30PNASpnas.orgVisit source
- Reference 31ACLUaclu.orgVisit source
- Reference 32OPENPOLICINGopenpolicing.stanford.eduVisit source
- Reference 33CCJccj.asu.eduVisit source
- Reference 34TREATMENTADVOCACYCENTERtreatmentadvocacycenter.orgVisit source
- Reference 35INQUIRERinquirer.comVisit source
- Reference 36MILWAUKEEPOLICEREFORMmilwaukeepolicereform.comVisit source
- Reference 37OAKLANDSIDEoaklandside.orgVisit source
- Reference 38COMMERCIALAPPEALcommercialappeal.comVisit source
- Reference 39DETROITMIdetroitmi.govVisit source
- Reference 40NOLAnola.comVisit source
- Reference 41STLTODAYstltoday.comVisit source
- Reference 42LASVEGASSUNlasvegassun.comVisit source
- Reference 43MPDCmpdc.dc.govVisit source
- Reference 44BPDNEWSbpdnews.comVisit source
- Reference 45SEATTLEseattle.govVisit source
- Reference 46PORTLANDportland.govVisit source
- Reference 47SANFRANCISCOPOLICEsanfranciscopolice.orgVisit source
- Reference 48NPRnpr.orgVisit source
- Reference 49PHILLYphilly.comVisit source
- Reference 50MPRNEWSmprnews.orgVisit source
- Reference 51OREGONIANoregonian.comVisit source
- Reference 52CHRONchron.comVisit source
- Reference 53CLEVELANDcleveland.comVisit source
- Reference 54WCPOwcpo.comVisit source
- Reference 55BOSTONboston.comVisit source
- Reference 56GAOgao.govVisit source
- Reference 57PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 58PROPUBLICApropublica.orgVisit source
- Reference 59REUTERSreuters.comVisit source
- Reference 60BJSbjs.govVisit source
- Reference 61CBPPcbpp.orgVisit source
- Reference 62PERFECTRESPONSEperfectresponse.comVisit source
- Reference 63TACtac.orgVisit source
- Reference 64BRENNANCENTERbrennancenter.orgVisit source
- Reference 65NACOnaco.orgVisit source
- Reference 66FORCESCIENCEforcescience.orgVisit source
- Reference 67INVESTIGATETVinvestigatetv.comVisit source