March 3, 2025 Story by: Editor
Fatal police encounters surged last year to their highest level in over a decade, according to newly released data.
Why It Matters
The increase comes at a time when momentum for police reform has faded, five years after George Floyd’s murder in 2020. Meanwhile, President Trump has rolled back initiatives aimed at curbing police misconduct.
By the Numbers
A mapping initiative by Campaign Zero, an advocacy group against police violence, reported that law enforcement killed 1,365 people in 2024—the highest annual total since 2013.
- The figure represents less than a 1% increase from the previous year. However, this small uptick occurred even as early data indicated a nationwide decline in homicides and other violent crimes.
- 64.6% of police killings occurred in response to 911 calls, according to the analysis.
- More than half (54.7%) of those killed by U.S. law enforcement were between the ages of 20 and 40.
- In 70% of cases where mental state information was available, 1 in 5 individuals killed by police exhibited signs of mental illness (excluding drug or alcohol-related conditions).
Disproportionate Impact on Black Communities
Black communities continued to face disproportionate levels of police violence, based on newly tracked neighborhood-level data from Campaign Zero.
- In Chicago, Black residents were more than 30 times more likely to be killed by police than white residents.
- In St. Louis, Black residents faced a 10 times higher likelihood of being killed by law enforcement compared to white residents.
What They’re Saying
Campaign Zero emphasized the need for urgent reforms in response to the findings:
“This rise in police violence, even as homicides and violent crime decline nationwide, is a deeply troubling trend that demands data-backed solutions,” the organization said in a statement.
How the Data Is Collected
Campaign Zero compiles its database using media reports to track cases where law enforcement officers—whether on-duty or off-duty—used force resulting in someone’s death.
- DeRay Mckesson, executive director of Campaign Zero, explained the research process to Axios:
“Researchers scour the internet daily for the latest police shootings and verify them to confirm details before including them in the database.” - If a victim’s race or ethnicity cannot be confirmed, the database classifies them as “unknown race,” Mckesson added.
- Since its inception, Campaign Zero estimates its database has captured 92% of all police killings since 2013.
High-Profile Cases Sparked Renewed Scrutiny
Several incidents in 2024 briefly reignited discussions on police violence:
- The fatal deputy shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black woman in Illinois who had called 911 for help, drew widespread outrage.
- A Black man’s fatal beating by white corrections officers at an upstate New York prison, caught on body cam footage, led to investigations and protests.
Political Reactions
Despite public outcry, police reform has not been a focal point in political campaigns.
- Former Vice President Kamala Harris has not prioritized police reform while campaigning in Pennsylvania and Michigan, instead focusing on appealing to white voters.
- She acknowledged Massey’s killing and urged Congress to pass the stalled George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
- Meanwhile, President Trump has pledged to end all Department of Justice pattern-and-practice investigations into problematic police departments.
Flashback: The Rise and Fall of Police Reform Efforts
After the 2020 racial justice protests, many states enacted laws restricting police powers, including:
- Reducing qualified immunity for officers.
- Banning chokeholds.
- Mandating body cameras.
However, several factors slowed progress:
- Rising crime rates during President Biden’s early term.
- Internal conflicts within Black Lives Matter organizations.
- Congressional gridlock preventing major reform.
- A conservative backlash against discussions on systemic racism, framed as opposition to critical race theory in schools.
These challenges have largely stalled police reform efforts, despite the continuing rise in deadly police encounters.
Source: AXIOS
