A new report from the D.C. Office of Police Complaints reveals a troubling increase in the Metropolitan Police Department's (MPD) use of force incidents involving Black people in 2023. According to the report, 94% of those involved in these incidents were Black, an increase from 90% in 2022. Overall, the total number of use-of-force incidents rose by 11% between 2022 and 2023.
The report highlights that "tactical takedowns were the most frequent type of force reported in 2023, accounting for 39% of uses of force." Use of force includes a range of actions, such as handcuffing, holding down suspects, and deploying batons, dogs, tasers, or guns.
In total, there were 1,142 use of force incidents in 2023. The majority of these incidents did not involve firearms, although the MPD fired on eight people and four dogs during the year. One person and all four dogs were killed.
Despite the MPD's diverse workforce, with 45% of officers who reported using force being Black and the department consisting of 52% Black officers, the disproportionate use of force against Black residents stands out.
These figures are especially concerning given the demographic breakdown of Washington, D.C. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Black or African American people make up 44.4% of the city's population, highlighting a significant disparity between the city's racial makeup and the incidents of force reported.
Link: Complex