Police Use of Force National Database Unveils In-Depth Analysis of Portland

WASHINGTON — The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and its sister organization, The Leadership Conference Education Fund, published police use of force data from nine new cities on Accountable Now, a national repository that collects use of force statistics from law enforcement agencies across the United States. Accountable Now makes it easier than ever for communities to uncover racial and other demographic disparities in how their cities are policed.

Originally launched in February 2021, the Accountable Now platform has expanded its functionality for using existing data on the site and added in-depth analysis of police departments in the following cities: Stockton, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Lincoln, Neb.; Omaha, Neb.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle, Wash. 

“Police use violent force in cities and towns across the country every day, but we have no central way of keeping track of it. By collecting data on police behavior and making it understandable and accessible online, Accountable Now seeks to remedy this lack of transparency and help communities as they work to eliminate police violence, hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct, and reimagine public safety,” said Sakira Cook, senior director of the justice reform program at The Leadership Conference. “With each new city added to the platform, we become better equipped to demand accountability from the thousands of police departments that have not yet made their use of force data public.”

No national standard for use of force data

There is currently no national standard for use of force data and no national requirement for local law enforcement agencies to collect and report use of force data. This means we know very little about how police interact with and treat community members in thousands of cities around the country, outside of anecdotes documenting the disproportionate use of violence against communities of color. Accountable Now seeks to address this knowledge gap by collecting use of force data and making it publicly accessible. Doing so allows researchers and advocates to understand and demonstrate the full scope of police violence and equips communities with the information they need to demand a transformed public safety system that protects and serves them well.

To view police use of force data for Portland, visit www.accountablenow.com.