In a special analysis, KPCC has compiled the most complete picture to date of how often and under what circumstances cops in Los Angeles County (and, eventually, the Southern California region) use deadly force and hurt or kill people.
Despite the recent increase in witness videos, the details of most police shootings remain in investigative files. There is no meaningful, comprehensive public accounting of when officers use deadly force in California.
By reviewing prosecutor, coroner and state Department of Justice reports, KPCC is bringing to light factors the public never learns, but cares deeply about: how often those shot were unarmed, how many of them showed signs of mental illness or other impairments, where the deadly force occurred, what led the officers to think they were in danger.
We get the behind-the-scenes story from some of the project leaders.
Learn more here.
Officer Involved: A KPCC investigation
Introducing #OfficerInvolved, a KPCC investigation into police shootings in #LACounty. Explore the data at kpcc.org/officerinvolved. (Music credit: "Is That You or Are You You" by Chris Zabriskie)
Posted by KPCC on Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Guests:
Evelyn Larrubia, Interim Sr. Managing Editor for News, KPCC
Chris Keller, KPCC News Editor with a focus on data