Samuel Sinyangwe
@samswey.bsky.social
Data Scientist. Mapping Police Violence.
Despite these changes, police did not report using less force *overall* and the number of people killed by police actually increased. And that’s just what the police document and disclose. The true number of cases is likely much higher than what’s reported.
May 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Despite these changes, police did not report using less force *overall* and the number of people killed by police actually increased. And that’s just what the police document and disclose. The true number of cases is likely much higher than what’s reported.
Noticeable shifts in police use of force:
1) chemical spray and batons were used much more frequently in 2020, largely against protesters.
2) reported neck restraints declined rapidly in 2020 after many states banned them.
3) K-9 incidents reduced slightly over time.
1) chemical spray and batons were used much more frequently in 2020, largely against protesters.
2) reported neck restraints declined rapidly in 2020 after many states banned them.
3) K-9 incidents reduced slightly over time.
May 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Noticeable shifts in police use of force:
1) chemical spray and batons were used much more frequently in 2020, largely against protesters.
2) reported neck restraints declined rapidly in 2020 after many states banned them.
3) K-9 incidents reduced slightly over time.
1) chemical spray and batons were used much more frequently in 2020, largely against protesters.
2) reported neck restraints declined rapidly in 2020 after many states banned them.
3) K-9 incidents reduced slightly over time.
A report my organization Mapping Police Violence recently published at policedata.org finds most agencies with DOJ reform agreements reported reducing police use of force overall.
May 24, 2025 at 4:44 PM
A report my organization Mapping Police Violence recently published at policedata.org finds most agencies with DOJ reform agreements reported reducing police use of force overall.
As a result of these trends, police killings rates in Red states are now nearly twice as high as the rates in Blue states.
May 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
As a result of these trends, police killings rates in Red states are now nearly twice as high as the rates in Blue states.
This suggests increasing political polarization of police violence. Police killings were already increasing in more conservative states before George Floyd. But the backlash may have accelerated this trend - while reforms weren’t impactful/transformative enough to offset these increases overall.
May 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
This suggests increasing political polarization of police violence. Police killings were already increasing in more conservative states before George Floyd. But the backlash may have accelerated this trend - while reforms weren’t impactful/transformative enough to offset these increases overall.
Among Red states, police killings rates increased the most in states did not enact police reform/accountability laws. The 30 states that passed post-Floyd police reform laws reduced killings by 6%, the remaining 20 states increased killings by 21%. 18 of these 20 states voted Trump in 2024.
May 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Among Red states, police killings rates increased the most in states did not enact police reform/accountability laws. The 30 states that passed post-Floyd police reform laws reduced killings by 6%, the remaining 20 states increased killings by 21%. 18 of these 20 states voted Trump in 2024.