Police shootings data can be unsettlingly specific, and the patterns do not look the same across neighborhoods, days, or training policies. In a 2020 analysis, 66% of victims of police-related shootings were unarmed or had no weapon recorded, and in 2022, 58% of shootings happened in residential areas. The question is why the same system produces such different outcomes, from body cameras and early intervention to de-escalation and officer behavior.
Key Takeaways
- In a study of US police use-of-force incidents, 46% of shootings occurred after an officer reported suspect non-compliance.
- In a study using US data, people with known mental illness were involved in 20% of police killings examined.
- In a peer-reviewed study, officers fired 2.0+ rounds in 68% of investigated shootings (average rounds in cases ranged by jurisdiction).
- A 2022 US analysis found 58% of police shootings occurred in residential areas.
- In a study of US officer-involved shootings, 52% occurred on weekdays (Monday–Friday).
- In Canada, 11 of 14 police-involved firearm-related fatalities in 2022 were shootings during non-traffic incidents.
- In a 2020 survey, 68% of Americans supported having police body cameras, according to Pew Research Center.
- A 2018 randomized controlled trial in Las Vegas found body cameras reduced use of force incidents by 9% compared with a control group.
- A 2019 meta-analysis in the journal Crime & Delinquency found body-worn cameras were associated with a 26% reduction in certain officer misconduct outcomes.
- A 2017 peer-reviewed paper found that police departments that adopted early intervention systems had 34% lower sustained use-of-force rates among officers, compared to departments without those programs.
- In a 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open, 66% of victims of police-related shootings were unarmed or had no weapon recorded in the dataset (depending on case definitions).
- In a UK study of police firearms incidents, 54% involved armed suspects and 46% involved unarmed suspects.
- $700 million was allocated for state and local law enforcement reform under the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, some of which can be used for public safety expenditures (publicly reported allocation total).
- 27% of surveyed police chiefs reported that their agency does not have a policy for body-worn cameras — measured as the share of agencies lacking a body-worn camera policy in the National Police Policy Survey.
- 7% of surveyed agencies reported having no policy for officer use of pepper spray — measured as the share of agencies without a pepper spray policy.
Body cameras, de escalation training, and accountability reforms appear linked to reduced police force.
Related reading
01 · Category
Tactical Context4 stats
01
In a study of US police use-of-force incidents, 46% of shootings occurred after an officer reported suspect non-compliance.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0093854820937279
02
In a study using US data, people with known mental illness were involved in 20% of police killings examined.https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1701262114
03
In a peer-reviewed study, officers fired 2.0+ rounds in 68% of investigated shootings (average rounds in cases ranged by jurisdiction).https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10986111221081321
04
In a study of police shootings in the US, the average distance between officer and victim at discharge was 20 feet (median 15 feet).https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2020.1780560
Interpretation
Tactical Context Interpretation
From a tactical context perspective, shootings often unfold at very close range and under signs of non-compliance, with the officer and victim averaging 20 feet apart at discharge and 46% of shootings happening after the officer reported the suspect was not complying.
02 · Category
Time And Location3 stats
01
A 2022 US analysis found 58% of police shootings occurred in residential areas.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10538712.2022.2132445
02
In a study of US officer-involved shootings, 52% occurred on weekdays (Monday–Friday).https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/24730580.2021.1918837
03
In Canada, 11 of 14 police-involved firearm-related fatalities in 2022 were shootings during non-traffic incidents.https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/crime_and_justice/police_fatalities
Interpretation
Time And Location Interpretation
Across reported police shootings, location and timing patterns stand out, with 58% happening in residential areas and 52% occurring on weekdays, while in Canada 11 of 14 firearm-related police deaths in 2022 occurred during non-traffic incidents.
03 · Category
Public Trust And Reform1 stats
01
In a 2020 survey, 68% of Americans supported having police body cameras, according to Pew Research Center.https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/10/22/americans-views-on-policing-reform/
Interpretation
Public Trust And Reform Interpretation
In 2020, Pew Research Center found that 68% of Americans supported police body cameras, showing strong public backing for accountability measures that can advance trust and reform.
04 · Category
Policy And Oversight7 stats
01
A 2018 randomized controlled trial in Las Vegas found body cameras reduced use of force incidents by 9% compared with a control group.https://www.nber.org/papers/w25310
02
A 2019 meta-analysis in the journal Crime & Delinquency found body-worn cameras were associated with a 26% reduction in certain officer misconduct outcomes.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0011128719855260
03
A 2017 peer-reviewed paper found that police departments that adopted early intervention systems had 34% lower sustained use-of-force rates among officers, compared to departments without those programs.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0093854817727819
04
In a 2020 national survey of agencies, 63% reported having an early intervention system to identify officers at risk of misconduct or excessive force.https://www.policefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Police-Integrity-and-Accountability.pdf
05
In the US, 24 states have implemented statutes limiting qualified immunity for police officers as of 2024 (count of states).https://www.ncsl.org/civil-and-criminal-justice/qualified-immunity-state-legislation
06
In the US, 17 states have enacted some form of duty-to-intervene law for police officers as of 2024 (count of states).https://www.ncsl.org/civil-and-criminal-justice/duty-to-intervene-laws
07
In the US, 16 states require reporting of certain officer-involved deaths or uses of force to a central authority, according to NCSL’s 2024 state policy database.https://www.ncsl.org/democracy-and-accountability/police-use-of-force-reporting-and-analysis
Interpretation
Policy And Oversight Interpretation
The policy and oversight data show a clear momentum toward stronger accountability systems, with body-worn cameras linked to 9% to 26% reductions in force and misconduct outcomes and early intervention programs associated with 34% lower sustained use-of-force rates, while by 2024 most agencies and states are adopting related safeguards such as early intervention coverage (63% of agencies) and expanded legal and reporting requirements (24 states limiting qualified immunity, 17 duty-to-intervene states, and 16 states mandating central reporting).
More related reading
05 · Category
Weapons And Unarmed2 stats
01
In a 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open, 66% of victims of police-related shootings were unarmed or had no weapon recorded in the dataset (depending on case definitions).https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2762460
02
In a UK study of police firearms incidents, 54% involved armed suspects and 46% involved unarmed suspects.https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/police-use-of-firearms-and-taser-hmicfrs.pdf
Interpretation
Weapons And Unarmed Interpretation
Across police shootings in this weapons and unarmed framing, the JAMA Network Open study found that 66% of victims were unarmed or had no recorded weapon, while a UK firearms incident study reported 46% of suspects were unarmed, showing that unarmed cases make up a substantial share in both datasets.
06 · Category
Cost Analysis1 stats
01
$700 million was allocated for state and local law enforcement reform under the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, some of which can be used for public safety expenditures (publicly reported allocation total).https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0472
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In cost analysis terms, the allocation of $700 million through the American Rescue Plan for state and local law enforcement reform signals a significant investment level that can be directed toward public safety expenditures related to police shootings.
07 · Category
Incidence & Risk2 stats
01
27% of surveyed police chiefs reported that their agency does not have a policy for body-worn cameras — measured as the share of agencies lacking a body-worn camera policy in the National Police Policy Survey.https://www.policefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Body-Worn-Cameras-Policy-Report-Final.pdf
02
7% of surveyed agencies reported having no policy for officer use of pepper spray — measured as the share of agencies without a pepper spray policy.https://www.policefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Use-of-Force-Policy-Report-Final.pdf
Interpretation
Incidence & Risk Interpretation
From an Incidence and Risk perspective, a notable portion of agencies lack key safeguards, with 27% of surveyed police chiefs reporting no body-worn camera policy and 7% reporting no pepper spray policy, both of which can raise the likelihood and uncertainty of harmful outcomes in shooting incidents.
08 · Category
Policy & Practice4 stats
01
24 states implemented statutes limiting qualified immunity for police officers as of 2024 — measured as the count of states.https://www.ncsl.org/civil-and-political-rights/qualified-immunity
02
17 states have enacted some form of duty-to-intervene law for police officers as of 2024 — measured as the count of states.https://www.ncsl.org/civil-and-political-rights/duty-to-intervene
03
16 states require reporting of certain officer-involved deaths or uses of force to a central authority as of 2024 — measured as the count of states.https://www.ncsl.org/other/guide-to-state-reporting-systems-officer-involved-deaths
04
In the US, 86% of police departments reported using some form of officer training on de-escalation — measured as the share of agencies reporting de-escalation training.https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1104-1.html
Interpretation
Policy & Practice Interpretation
As of 2024, only 24 states have limited qualified immunity, but policy choices are moving faster in practice with 17 states adopting duty to intervene, 16 requiring centralized reporting of officer-involved deaths or uses of force, and 86% of departments reporting de escalation training.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Diana Reeves. (2026, February 13). Police Shooting Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/police-shooting-statistics
MLA
Diana Reeves. "Police Shooting Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/police-shooting-statistics.
Chicago
Diana Reeves. 2026. "Police Shooting Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/police-shooting-statistics.
Sources & references
24 datasets cited across this report
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)