Date of Award

Spring 3-1-2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Abstract

In 2015, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that police killed 383 people in the United States. Independent tabulation using web-based analytics developed by the Guardian newspaper from the United Kingdom put the 2015 death toll at 928, a more widely agreed upon death toll. The staggering 545-person disparity calls into question the validity of other authoritative database numbers to ostensibly gather and publish crime data. High profile police use of force encounters captured on mobile devices, dash cams, body worn cameras, and surveillance video has brought renewed focus on police policy transparency; between what the police say, what the police do, and who has a right to know if there is a difference.

This study examines the impact of the White House Police Data Initiative, a 2015 call for the nation’s law enforcement to make police data more transparent, on Oakland California’s Police Department use of force open reporting. Additionally, this study looks more broadly at the adequacy police of use of force collection and transparency, the role of government in use of force openness, and how citizens, journalists, and other stakeholders may contribute to use of force accountability.

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