The Seattle Police Department continues to provide use of force data to highlight transparency around our policy, process, and training with regards to use of force and how it is investigated. This report builds on the previous publication and outlines use of force incidents occurring between January 1 and December 31, 2017.
The key findings are consistent with last year’s report, which is use of force overall remains extraordinarily low.
- Officers reported using force of any level at a rate of less than one fifth of one percent (0.18%) of all dispatches to nearly 400,000 unique events.
- Overwhelming majority (approximately 77%) involved no greater than the lowest level of reportable force.
- Serious levels of force – force that causes or may be reasonably expected to cause substantial bodily injury – was used in only 16 (0.004%) of these nearly 400,000 events.
While each application of force is separately investigated and reviewed, overall the use of force by Seattle Police officers continues to be a rare occurrence. This report shows that officers implement, in practice every day, the de-escalation training and tactics that have earned Seattle national acclaim, while maintaining a high level of proactive law enforcement activity. 
Download the 2018 Use of Force Report.
Download the 2017 Use of Force Report.
Access the dashboards: Use of Force | Officer Involved Shootings
For more information on our use of force policy and investigations visit: