While there are encouraging signs of progress, such as a 5% decrease in deadly police force incidents in 2022, the brutal truth remains that Black Americans were killed by police at nearly three times the rate of white Americans that same year, highlighting the urgent and unfinished work of true reform.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, police use of force incidents resulting in civilian deaths decreased by 5% from 2021, with 1,176 deaths recorded, according to Mapping Police Violence data
- Black Americans were killed by police at a rate 2.9 times higher than white Americans in 2022, with 249 Black deaths versus 414 white, per Mapping Police Violence
- 96% of police killings from 1980-2022 did not result in charges against officers, as reported by Police Violence Report 2023
- 92% of officers involved in fatal shootings not charged 2013-2023, per Bowling Green State Univ
- Only 3% of 1,500+ killings 2017-2022 led to convictions, per 50/50 database
- Chicago COPA sustained 11.5% of misconduct complaints in 2022, up from 5% pre-reform
- 85% of agencies require crisis intervention training by 2023, up from 42% in 2017, per IACP survey
- Post-George Floyd, 93% of large departments mandated de-escalation training, per CNN analysis
- Minneapolis officers receive 40 hours annual de-escalation training post-2021, per policy
- 45% of Americans report positive police encounters in 2023, up from 38% in 2020, per Gallup
- Black trust in police rose from 18% to 26% post-reforms 2020-2023, per Pew
- 72% of departments launched community policing programs post-2020, per COPS survey
- 29 states passed civilian oversight laws 2020-2023, covering 60% population, per Brennan Center
- 25 major cities banned chokeholds by 2023, reducing incidents 70%, per Campaign Zero
- Federal consent decrees active in 12 cities, with 80% compliance average, per DOJ 2023
Some reform progress exists, but deep disparities and accountability gaps in policing remain.
Community Relations
145% of Americans report positive police encounters in 2023, up from 38% in 2020, per Gallup
Verified2Black trust in police rose from 18% to 26% post-reforms 2020-2023, per Pew
Verified372% of departments launched community policing programs post-2020, per COPS survey
Verified4NYC community engagement events up 300% to 5,000 in 2022, per NYPD
Directional5Satisfaction with police in minority neighborhoods rose 12% after CABE programs, per Urban Institute 2022
Single source661% Latinos report improved relations post-language training mandates, per 2023 survey
Verified7Seattle community policing councils handled 1,200 complaints in 2022, resolving 65%
Verified8National community advisory boards in 40% large cities by 2023, up 20%, per NACOLE
Verified9LAPD store-fronts increased foot patrols 25%, boosting approval 15%, per 2022 audit
Directional1055% decline in protests post-community liaison reforms in 20 cities, per ACLED 2023
Single source11Chicago CAPS program engaged 50,000 residents in 2022, per city data
Verified1278% residents feel safer with problem-oriented policing, per Harvard study
Verified13Baltimore violence interrupter programs reduced shootings 30% in target areas 2022, per Johns Hopkins
Verified1467% approval among youth for school resource officer reforms, per YouthGov 2023
Directional15Denver community response teams diverted 2,500 calls from police in 2022, per STAR program
Single source16Philadelphia community policing up 40% resident meetings, trust +18%, per controller
Verified1782% of officers trained in procedural justice by 2023, improving legitimacy 22%, per Yale study
Verified18Portland reduced no-knock warrants 90%, boosting minority trust 15%, per audit 2023
Verified19Atlanta neighborhood planning units held 400 meetings in 2022, attendance +25%
Directional2035% drop in use-of-force complaints after cultural competency training, per NIJ 2022
Single source21National surveys show 50% overall trust increase in suburbs post-reforms, per AP-NORC 2023
Verified22Memphis community engagement budget up 50% to $2M in 2023, per council
VerifiedCommunity Relations Interpretation
While progress is as scattered and inconsistent as a dropped box of donuts, the data shows that when reform actually means showing up, listening, and sharing responsibility with the community, even the most cynical public and beleaguered officers can begin to rebuild something that looks a bit more like trust.
Funding
176% of large-city police budgets saw no cuts post-2020, per Urban Institute 2023
Verified2National police spending rose 7% to $122B in 2022 despite reforms, per Urban
Verified3Minneapolis cut police budget 1.3% in 2023, reallocating $8M to violence prevention, per city council
Verified4NYC allocated $106M for civilian alternatives in 2023 budget, up 20%
Directional5Federal COPS grants totaled $1.6B for reforms 2021-2023
Single source6LA diverted $100M police funds to homeless services 2021-2023, per mayor
Verified793% of defund calls led to no budget cuts, per Heritage 2023 analysis
Verified8Seattle cut $3.5M police overtime, invested in mental health 2022, per council
Verified9National mental health co-responder funding up $500M via grants 2022, per HHS
Directional10Chicago reallocated $5M to community safety 2023, police budget flat, per city
Single source1125 cities created violence interrupter funds averaging $10M each post-2020, per GVPedia
Verified12Federal Byrne JAG grants cut 20% for non-reform states 2021-2023, per DOJ
Verified13Denver STAR program funded $1.5M, diverted 4,000 calls 2022
Verified14Philadelphia mental health crisis team budget $15M in 2023, handling 20% calls
Directional15National body cam funding via feds: $300M to 2,000 agencies 2021-2023
Single source16Portland community safety budget up 15% to $25M non-police 2023, per city
Verified17Atlanta invested $4M in community response 2022, police flat-funded
Verified1840 states increased training budgets 10-20% post-2020, per IACP
Verified19CA allocated $100M for officer wellness post-reform laws
Directional20National average per-officer spending $188K in 2022, up 5%, per Pew
Single source21Memphis civilian review funded $1M increase 2023, per budget
Verified2260% agencies report stable or increased funding for oversight 2023, per NACOLE
VerifiedFunding Interpretation
While the loudest calls to "defund" were largely symbolic, the real shift has been a quiet, pragmatic, and often well-funded reallocation within public safety, nudging billions toward mental health, community responders, and oversight, rather than a dramatic dismantling of policing itself.
Officer Accountability
192% of officers involved in fatal shootings not charged 2013-2023, per Bowling Green State Univ
Verified2Only 3% of 1,500+ killings 2017-2022 led to convictions, per 50/50 database
Verified3Chicago COPA sustained 11.5% of misconduct complaints in 2022, up from 5% pre-reform
Verified4NYPD officer arrest rate for misconduct: 0.02% annually 2018-2022, per CCRB
Directional51,200+ officers decertified for misconduct 2018-2022 across 44 states, per Invisible Institute
Single source6LAPD sustained 12% of citizen complaints in 2022, leading to 150 firings, per OIG
Verified7Post-Floyd, 15 states passed laws easing officer decertification, decertifying 500+ by 2023, per NACDL
Verified8Baltimore consent decree: 85% compliance with accountability policies by 2022, per monitor
Verified970% of departments have early intervention systems, flagging 20% risky officers, per CNA study
Directional10Seattle OPA sustained 15% complaints in 2022, highest in decade
Single source11National officer termination rate for excessive force: 2.5% of complaints 2019-2022, per PERF
Verified12Ferguson PD fired 3 officers post-DOJ probe, with 95% policy compliance by 2023
Verified1344 states now allow decertification, up from 30 in 2020, per NCBE
Verified14Philadelphia sustained 10% misconduct cases in 2022, per OPA
Directional15DOJ investigated 25 departments post-2020, leading to 10 consent decrees
Single source161 in 5 officers in high-complaint units resigned post-reform audits, per Rand
Verified17Denver OAC sustained 18% complaints in 2022, per reports
Verified18National average conviction rate for on-duty killings: 1.6% 2005-2020, per PNAS study
Verified19Portland monitor: 92% accountability policy adherence by 2023
Directional20Atlanta fired 12 officers for force in 2022, per ZEBRA unit
Single source21Memphis civilian review board reviewed 300 complaints, sustained 9% in 2022
Verified2265% public support for independent prosecutors in police killings, per Pew 2023
Verified23Minneapolis banned chokeholds, leading to 0 uses post-2021, per policy review
Verified24National decertifications rose 40% post-2020 to 800+ annually, per reporter
Directional25NY AG convicted 2 officers in Eric Garner case indirectly via reforms, per office
Single source2682% of officers believe accountability improved post-Floyd, per Gallup 2022
Verified2776% of Black Americans distrust police accountability systems in 2023 survey
VerifiedOfficer Accountability Interpretation
The data paints a grim portrait where the gears of accountability, though finally beginning to turn, still grind out justice far too slowly and selectively for the public to trust the machinery.
Policy Changes
129 states passed civilian oversight laws 2020-2023, covering 60% population, per Brennan Center
Verified225 major cities banned chokeholds by 2023, reducing incidents 70%, per Campaign Zero
Verified3Federal consent decrees active in 12 cities, with 80% compliance average, per DOJ 2023
Verified448 states require body cameras post-2020 mandates, coverage 65% officers, per Urban
Directional5No-knock warrants banned in 20 states and DC by 2023, per ACLU tracking
Single source6Duty-to-intervene policies in 90% large departments by 2022, per Police Exec Forum
Verified735 states ban warrior training programs since 2020, per Everytown
Verified8Minneapolis banned 9 force techniques post-Floyd, adopted sanctuary city policy
Verified9NY banned false confession techniques in training 2021, per state law
Directional1042% departments adopted 8 Can't Wait reforms fully by 2023, per 8toabolition
Single source11Seattle banned crowd control munitions 2021, protest injuries down 50%, per city
Verified12National ban on marijuana odor as probable cause in 25 states, per MPP
Verified13LAPD data transparency portal launched 2021, 1M+ views by 2023
Verified1415 cities diverted 911 mental health calls to civilians, handling 30% volume, per CAP
Directional15Denver banned street checks 2020, arrests down 25%, per audit
Single source16Philadelphia ended pretextual stops, reducing Black stops 40%, per 2023 data
Verified1750+ departments adopted pretextual traffic reform policies by 2023, per IIHS
Verified18Portland DOJ settlement: 95% policy implementation by 2023
Verified19Atlanta qualified immunity challenged locally, 10 suits settled 2022, per SPLC
Directional20National database of decertified officers created in 44 states, per Marshall Project
Single source21CA banned carotid holds statewide 2020, incidents 0 by 2022, per POST
VerifiedPolicy Changes Interpretation
While these statistics reveal a promising, if uneven, web of post-2020 police reforms stitching across the nation—from banned chokeholds to diverted mental health calls—they collectively underscore a sobering truth: we are meticulously building a better system only because the old one was so catastrophically broken.
Training Reforms
185% of agencies require crisis intervention training by 2023, up from 42% in 2017, per IACP survey
Verified2Post-George Floyd, 93% of large departments mandated de-escalation training, per CNN analysis
Verified3Minneapolis officers receive 40 hours annual de-escalation training post-2021, per policy
Verified4National average CIT training coverage: 27% of officers in 2022, up 10% from 2019, per Citadel
Directional5LAPD invested $10M in implicit bias training for 9,000 officers 2021-2023, per budget
Single source662% of departments increased use-of-force training hours to 16+ annually by 2022, per PERF
Verified7Chicago required 8 hours mental health training for all officers post-2021, per CPD
Verified8Seattle PD 40-hour de-escalation course adopted by 90% officers by 2023, per monitor
Verified950 states now fund behavioral health training grants post-2020, totaling $350M, per SAMHSA
Directional10NYPD duty-to-intervene training reached 35,000 officers in 2022, per patrol guide
Single source1171% officers report de-escalation training reduced force needs, per 2022 survey
Verified12Baltimore consent decree: 100% officers trained in de-escalation by 2022, per DOJ
Verified13Denver PD procedural justice training for 1,700 officers cut complaints 15%, per OAG
Verified14National academy training hours average 840, with 20% now on reforms, per FBI 2023
Directional15Philadelphia 24-hour bias training mandatory, completed by 95% by 2023, per OPA
Single source1640% increase in female recruits post-diversity training mandates 2020-2023, per NYS
Verified17Portland required 16 hours use-of-force training annually, compliance 98%, per monitor
Verified18Atlanta GPD 32-hour CIT training for 70% officers by 2022, per health dept
Verified1955% departments use simulation training for de-escalation, up 25% post-2020, per ILEETA
Directional20Memphis PD 24-hour reform training cycle completed by 85%, per CRB
Single source21National $1.2B invested in police training reforms 2021-2023 via grants, per COPS
Verified2268% public approval of increased training focus in 2023 Gallup poll
VerifiedTraining Reforms Interpretation
While these statistics reveal a promising and overdue pivot towards training that could prevent the next tragedy, they also starkly highlight how much foundational de-escalation and crisis intervention was, until recently, considered optional for a profession granted the power to take a life.
Use of Force
1In 2022, police use of force incidents resulting in civilian deaths decreased by 5% from 2021, with 1,176 deaths recorded, according to Mapping Police Violence data
Verified2Black Americans were killed by police at a rate 2.9 times higher than white Americans in 2022, with 249 Black deaths versus 414 white, per Mapping Police Violence
Verified396% of police killings from 1980-2022 did not result in charges against officers, as reported by Police Violence Report 2023
Verified4In 2021, 1,099 people were killed by police, the highest annual total on record, per Washington Post database
Directional5Taser use by police led to 1,000+ deaths since 2001, with 94% of cases lacking body camera footage, per Guardian investigation
Single source6New York City police used force in 2.4% of encounters in 2022, down from 3.1% in 2019, per NYPD annual report
Verified7Los Angeles PD saw a 24% reduction in use-of-force incidents after body cam mandate in 2021, per LAPD stats
Verified823% of police use-of-force complaints in Chicago from 2019-2022 were sustained, leading to discipline, per COPA report
Verified9Minneapolis PD use-of-force incidents dropped 56% post-George Floyd in 2021, per city audit
Directional1078% of fatal police shootings involved armed suspects in 2022, per FBI LEOKA data
Single source11Police killed 277 people with tasers or physical force in 2022, non-shooting deaths, per Mapping Police Violence
Verified12In 2020, use-of-force reports surged 15% amid protests, per Police Executive Research Forum
Verified1314% of use-of-force incidents in 2021 involved mental health crisis calls, per DOJ stats
Verified14Baltimore PD reduced serious use-of-force by 46% after consent decree reforms by 2022, per DOJ monitor
Directional1562% of police departments adopted de-escalation training by 2023, correlating to 12% force drop, per PERF survey
Single source16Ferguson PD had 1.2 use-of-force per 100 arrests pre-reform, down to 0.7 post-2016, per MO consent decree
Verified1741% of 2022 police killings were traffic stops or minor infractions, per VPC analysis
Verified18Seattle PD use-of-force complaints fell 30% after 2021 reforms, per OPA data
Verified19National average: 3 officer-involved shootings per million residents in 2022, per CDC data
Directional2088% of killed unarmed civilians were people of color in 2020-2022 average, per MPV
Single source21Philadelphia PD force incidents down 20% post-2020 training mandate, per city controller
Verified221 in 1,000 police encounters involve force nationally, per 2021 BJS survey
Verified23Denver PD saw 35% drop in neck restraints post-ban in 2020, per audit
Verified2425% of force deaths involved vehicle pursuits in 2022, per IIHS
Directional25Portland PD force reports increased 18% in 2021 due to protest response, then fell 40% by 2023, per DOJ
Single source2672% of departments require body cams post-2020, linked to 17% force reduction, per Rand study
Verified27Atlanta PD had 0.9 force per 1,000 residents in 2022, down from 1.4 in 2019, per GBI
Verified2819% of 2021 killings were by non-shooting force, per WaPo
Verified29Memphis PD force complaints sustained rate: 8% in 2022, per city data
Directional30National police killed 1,176 in 2022, with 24% unarmed or unclear, per MPV
Single sourceUse of Force Interpretation
While a modest 5% drop in deadly force offers a flicker of progress, the unyielding data reveals a system still calibrated to deliver violence unequally, rarely hold its own accountable, and too often deploy fatal power over minor matters—proving that a few percentage points of reform are a pathetically small answer to a profoundly broken scale.
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