Examining Officer Use of Force in a Large County Police Department

• In Event: Informing Police Practice through Action Research: Findings from the National Policing Institute

Abstract

Law enforcement officers using force against community members has been a divisive issue in the United States for most of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Often, segments of the community view race as a causal factor, not only with single episodes of force but in aggregate patterns. Racial disparities in rates of force bolster this view. In response to calls for reform, agencies have implemented many training and technology interventions to reduce the number and severity of force incidents. While some of these interventions may have been effective, it is still common to find racial disparities in force rates. Agencies often recognize these disparities but struggle to understand underlying factors and find actionable recommendations. In 2023, NPI partnered with a large county police department to take an in-depth examination of these disparities and go beyond descriptive reporting. The department provided access to the department’s data systems and employees to allow NPI researchers rare access to administrative records and arrest data. The researchers used the data to find new insights into factors potentially contributing to the disparities and create actionable recommendations for the department. During this presentation, the team will discuss the overall project approach, methods, and findings.

Author

• Colby Dolly, National Policing Institute