Analysis of Police Shootings Data Reveals.............

[Rams]

Analysis of Washington Post police-shootings data reveals surprising result – nearly 2x more whites than blacks shot by police
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/07/18/analysis-of-washington-post-police-shootings-data-reveals-surprising-result/

Willis Eschenbach / July 18, 2016
Note: While not the usual fare of WUWT, after some discussion with Mr. Eschenbach, I decided that this was an impartial data analysis, and that publishing it would be a public service that may be helpful in these troubled times. However, given the sensitive and inflammatory nature of the subject matter in the context of today’s events, I’ve decided not to allow comments on this article. The data speaks for itself, and the goal here is to present the data analysis minus the rhetoric the topic will generate. I take no position on the topic, but I do feel that better data presentation leads to better understanding of problems, and this data presentation may be helpful to many. There are other forums where I’m certain this data and the results will be discussed. – Anthony Watts (updated, headline was extended at 2PM PST)

Guest Essay by Willis Eschenbach
I got to thinking about the issues of race regarding the recent tragic police shootings, both the shootings of police and the shootings by police. The best data is from the Washington Post, which has a detailed site listing all of the people killed by police, which begins in 2015 and goes to the present. I thought I’d analyze their data. I looked at the data for the year 2015 because the full 2016 data is not in yet, and also in order to be able to compare it to other annual datasets.

First, there were 990 fatal police shootings in 2015. How does this compare to other causes of death? Well, I can’t tell you because so few people are killed by police. The number is so small that it is outside the range of the usual mortality lists. I can say that death by police is not in the top fifty causes of death in the US, so it is relatively rare. It is extremely rare for women, because the overwhelming majority of those killed by police were men.  And I would be greatly remiss if I did not highlight that in addition to the 990 civilian deaths, there were 51 police deaths in 2015 …

Regarding the civilians killed by police, more than nine-tenths of them were armed at the time—58% of the people killed had a gun or explosives, 17% wielded a knife or edged weapon, 9% were unarmed, 6% used a vehicle, and tragically, 3% had a toy weapon. The rest used mostly clubs, hatchets, hammers, baseball bats, the usual assortment of your basic stone age deadly weapons that can kill you just as dead now as they could in 1500 BC.

By race and ethnicity, there were 494 whites, 258 blacks, 172 Hispanics, 15 Asians, 14 American Indians or Alaskan natives, 9 “other” races, and 28 deaths with the race not specified. Which leads to the question … is there a racial imbalance? And in particular, are African-American people being killed at an excessive rate?

(Really wish I knew how to post pictures and graphics for this article. Some very interesting pie charts.)

Now, many folks calculate the death rates of the groups by comparing the numbers killed, to the corresponding numbers of that group in the general population … but you can’t do that. It leads to wildly incorrect conclusions. Here is an example that shows why comparing numbers of police shootings to the corresponding number of individuals in the general population leads to big errors:

Men make up about 50% of the general population, but men comprise 96% of those killed by police. Does this huge number of “excess male deaths” prove that the police are being sexist and that they are biased against men? Does this imbalance in the number of men killed mean that we need a “Male Lives Matter Too” movement?

Of course not. Instead, it simply demonstrates that men both commit and are arrested for far more crimes of violence than women; that men are far more likely than women to both carry and use weapons; that men are far more likely to both threaten and commit serious violence against a police officer than are women; and most importantly, that men are far more likely than women to violently resist arrest.

The one thread in the Washington Post database that is common to the overwhelming majority of police shootings is that almost all of the civilians were killed while resisting arrest. The records of the deaths show that to keep from going to jail, people were fighting with the police; they were shooting at the police; if they didn’t have a weapon handy they were punching the police or trying to drown the police; they were trying to run the officer over with a car or smash the officer’s skull with a baseball bat … but regardless of the endless variations of method, almost everyone killed by the police was in exactly the same situation—no less than 97% of the people fatally shot by police were killed during the course of an arrest that went bad when the people tried to resist.

Now, don’t get me wrong here. Certainly there were people unjustifiably killed during 2015. Even though only about three percent were not resisting arrest, that’s still thirty-four deaths of people who were not resisting the police when they were killed … double-plus ungood. And resisting arrest doesn’t automatically justify a death sentence. I’m sure you all remember the unarmed black man who was shot and killed in February 2015 in a Pennsylvania restaurant, while lying face down on the floor after being tasered. So yes, wrongful and unjustifiable deaths do occur. In addition, as happens most years, there were people killed by accident in 2015, like the bystander to a gun battle between undercover police and violent criminals who was killed by a badly aimed police bullet. And there were a couple of tragic misperceptions of the type where someone was holding a cell phone and the officer thought it was a gun.
But justified or not, 97% of the deaths by police were..............................

THERE'S ACTUALLY A WHOLE LOT MORE TO READ BUT, I FIGURE MOST FOLKS WON'T AND IF YOU READ THIS FAR, MAYBE YOU'LL ACTUALLY GO TO THE SITE AND SEE THE PIE CHARTS AND OTHER INFORMATION. HECK, YOU MIGHT EVEN COMMENT ON WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

Regardless, be safe out there, keep your tank above half full and trust your back only to those who you know well.   I forgot, YMMV.   If, this data is correct, one would think the DOJ and others (the media) would squash the untruths and quell the mobs.    Just offering this up for conversation.  

[phideux]

The big difference, for some reason, is that when a White POS thug is taken out by the cops, the White folks want to give the cops a medal.

When a Black POS thug is taken out by the police all the Ghetto trash  comes out of the woodwork about how he was such a good boy, Din-do-nuffin, putting his life back together even though 10 minutes before he was shot he was robbing a store, has 27 felony convictions, is the one slinging dope to your kids, was carrying a stolen gun and pulled it out on the cops after making them chase him. They start plastering his innocent looking grade school pics around, even though he is now a grown ass 6'2'' thug with a grill and is pictured flashing a gun and gang signs on his facebook.

That gives the poor oppressed people the right to burn crap down, riot steal Air Jordans, B-Ball jerseys, weaves and liquor.

This country is going to come to a world of hurt if they don't get this under control, especially if the thugs start taking this to the wrong neighborhoods.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Being that whites are over 60% of the population and blacks are 12% I think the statistics would show blacks are shot disproportionately. There are many circumstances to police shootings, so I wouldn't put too much into this statistic though. To me the issue is an unlawful shoot by a cop is just that. Regardless of race.

[Valkorado]

Being that whites are over 60% of the population and blacks are 12% I think the statistics would show blacks are shot disproportionately. There are many circumstances to police shootings, so I wouldn't put too much into this statistic though. To me the issue is an unlawful shoot by a cop is just that. Regardless of race.

Could this have something to do with who is on the scene when the police arrive?  Apparently the white criminals are very fast and able to flee before the cops get there, leaving the black criminals behind to be shot.

[phideux]

Being that whites are over 60% of the population and blacks are 12% I think the statistics would show blacks are shot disproportionately. There are many circumstances to police shootings, so I wouldn't put too much into this statistic though. To me the issue is an unlawful shoot by a cop is just that. Regardless of race.

There are disproportionate stats across the board and they can be used many different ways. Sure Blacks are 12% of the population but they eat up 42% of the public assistance, they make up 68% of the prison population, 64% of the NFL players are Black. If a Black man gets murdered in this country 98% of the time another Black man is gonna be the one to kill him, if a White guy gets murdered, and it's not by a family member, 72% of the time it will be by a Black man. Out of all the Black men shot and killed by the police in the last few years, over 99% of them were justifiable shoots, the Black person ran away, resisted, fought, pulled a weapon, tried to take the cops weapon, tried to ram or run over the cops or otherwise assault the officers. the overwhelming majority of them were repeat felons that were well known to the cops and a scourge on the neighborhoods.

Less than 1% were cases where the Black guy was "murdered" by the cops and in those cases the cops got theirs.

All the facts aren't in yet with this Charlotte case, but this "Handicapped father of 7" was no saint, he does have a record that includes weapons and violence.  Are you gonna tell me that at 4:00 in the afternoon, in the hood, nobody was around to witness what happened??? Nobody around with their ObamaPhone taping things as soon as the cops pulled up??? They didn't find a book at the scene, but they did find a gun. If the cops picked up the book and planted a gun some hoodrat would have it on tape.

[Rams]

To me the issue is an unlawful shoot by a cop is just that. Regardless of race.

This I agree with.   Other factors also enter into the equation.   Shot while resisting arrest is another factor touched by this data.   I can't confirm it's factual but, regardless of race, I'd recommend adhering to instructions given by LEOs.   If you don't like it, then seek justice through a lawyer.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Being that whites are over 60% of the population and blacks are 12% I think the statistics would show blacks are shot disproportionately. There are many circumstances to police shootings, so I wouldn't put too much into this statistic though. To me the issue is an unlawful shoot by a cop is just that. Regardless of race.

There are disproportionate stats across the board and they can be used many different ways. Sure Blacks are 12% of the population but they eat up 42% of the public assistance, they make up 68% of the prison population, 64% of the NFL players are Black. If a Black man gets murdered in this country 98% of the time another Black man is gonna be the one to kill him, if a White guy gets murdered, and it's not by a family member, 72% of the time it will be by a Black man. Out of all the Black men shot and killed by the police in the last few years, over 99% of them were justifiable shoots, the Black person ran away, resisted, fought, pulled a weapon, tried to take the cops weapon, tried to ram or run over the cops or otherwise assault the officers. the overwhelming majority of them were repeat felons that were well known to the cops and a scourge on the neighborhoods.

Less than 1% were cases where the Black guy was "murdered" by the cops and in those cases the cops got theirs.

All the facts aren't in yet with this Charlotte case, but this "Handicapped father of 7" was no saint, he does have a record that includes weapons and violence.  Are you gonna tell me that at 4:00 in the afternoon, in the hood, nobody was around to witness what happened??? Nobody around with their ObamaPhone taping things as soon as the cops pulled up??? They didn't find a book at the scene, but they did find a gun. If the cops picked up the book and planted a gun some hoodrat would have it on tape.

As I said, there many circumstances and I wouldn't put too much into the statistics. But in regards to some of your statements. I have no idea of what happened in this case. But I sure would like to see the bodycam footage of what happened. As far as being shot for running away. You surely are not advocating cops shooting people who run from them ?

[baldo]

Being that whites are over 60% of the population and blacks are 12% I think the statistics would show blacks are shot disproportionately. There are many circumstances to police shootings, so I wouldn't put too much into this statistic though. To me the issue is an unlawful shoot by a cop is just that. Regardless of race.

There are disproportionate stats across the board and they can be used many different ways. Sure Blacks are 12% of the population but they eat up 42% of the public assistance, they make up 68% of the prison population, 64% of the NFL players are Black. If a Black man gets murdered in this country 98% of the time another Black man is gonna be the one to kill him, if a White guy gets murdered, and it's not by a family member, 72% of the time it will be by a Black man. Out of all the Black men shot and killed by the police in the last few years, over 99% of them were justifiable shoots, the Black person ran away, resisted, fought, pulled a weapon, tried to take the cops weapon, tried to ram or run over the cops or otherwise assault the officers. the overwhelming majority of them were repeat felons that were well known to the cops and a scourge on the neighborhoods.

Less than 1% were cases where the Black guy was "murdered" by the cops and in those cases the cops got theirs.

All the facts aren't in yet with this Charlotte case, but this "Handicapped father of 7" was no saint, he does have a record that includes weapons and violence.  Are you gonna tell me that at 4:00 in the afternoon, in the hood, nobody was around to witness what happened??? Nobody around with their ObamaPhone taping things as soon as the cops pulled up??? They didn't find a book at the scene, but they did find a gun. If the cops picked up the book and planted a gun some hoodrat would have it on tape.

WOW.....Obamaphone?  hoodrat????  Really?

And that's a whole bunch of stats. Where did you pull those from?

[rocketray]

google....by FBI statistic 300,000 white women are raped by black men yearly and ZERO black women are raped by white men

[Rams]

As far as being shot for running away. You surely are not advocating cops shooting people who run from them ?

I don't think this question was directed to me but, I will respond anyway.
To be honest, it depends on the circumstances.   Race plays no factor in this either.

[baldo]

google....by FBI statistic 300,000 white women are raped by black men yearly and ZERO black women are raped by white men

You better check your numbers friend..

And the source for your 'stats'?

White Supremacists. Please try harder.

[f6john]

google....by FBI statistic 300,000 white women are raped by black men yearly and ZERO black women are raped by white men

You better check your numbers friend..

And the source for your 'stats'?

White Supremacists. Please try harder.

Excellent and informative post, very refreshing.

[Gavin_Sons]

google....by FBI statistic 300,000 white women are raped by black men yearly and ZERO black women are raped by white men

You better check your numbers friend..

And the source for your 'stats'?

White Supremacists. Please try harder.

Excellent and informative post, very refreshing.

That's the exact reason I blocked that asshat Baldo.

[phideux]

[/quote]As I said, there many circumstances and I wouldn't put too much into the statistics. But in regards to some of your statements. I have no idea of what happened in this case. But I sure would like to see the bodycam footage of what happened. As far as being shot for running away. You surely are not advocating cops shooting people who run from them ?
[/quote]

AS a blanket statement, no I am not advocating cops shooting someone just for running away, That is definitely situation dependent.

Someone has video of what happened, the truth will come out, but the Police Chief seems pretty sure of things on this one.

[The emperor has no clothes]

google....by FBI statistic 300,000 white women are raped by black men yearly and ZERO black women are raped by white men

You better check your numbers friend..

And the source for your 'stats'?

White Supremacists. Please try harder.

Excellent and informative post, very refreshing.

That's the exact reason I blocked that asshat Baldo.

Because he questioned somebody throwing out bullshit statistics ? (Oh I forgot I'm blocked also) 

[baldo]

google....by FBI statistic 300,000 white women are raped by black men yearly and ZERO black women are raped by white men

You better check your numbers friend..

And the source for your 'stats'?

White Supremacists. Please try harder.

Excellent and informative post, very refreshing.

That's the exact reason I blocked that asshat Baldo.

     C'mon Gavin...no name calling, please.

[Rams]

Well, there maybe many reasons folks get shot by the police.   

I'm of the opinion that following a LEOs instructions is pretty important when it comes to getting past the reason for his/her attention towards me.    I've got a feeling that the vast majority of those who got shot, weren't very pleasant or social when they had the opportunity.   

[DK]

Mr Eschenbach's "study" could be benefitted with numerical tables, charts an numerical comparisons rather than the reams of meaningles obisification designed to make it appear to be an intellectual masterpiece to anyone lacking the ability recognize it's fallacy and predisposed to believe the crap being peddled. 

[Rams]

Mr Eschenbach's "study" could be benefitted with numerical tables, charts an numerical comparisons rather than the reams of meaningles obisification designed to make it appear to be an intellectual masterpiece to anyone lacking the ability recognize it's fallacy and predisposed to believe the crap being peddled. 

This just had to be quoted.   

[Valkorado]

Mr Eschenbach's "study" could be benefitted with numerical tables, charts an numerical comparisons rather than the reams of meaningles obisification designed to make it appear to be an intellectual masterpiece to anyone lacking the ability recognize it's fallacy and predisposed to believe the crap being peddled.  

Do you really speak like that, DK?  Hardly seems like English.  

Anyway, here are some very detailed graphs and charts, with numerical comparisons.  They should help to make things clear for you.

https://infogr.am/Black-34991937313

[baldo]

Mr Eschenbach's "study" could be benefitted with numerical tables, charts an numerical comparisons rather than the reams of meaningles obisification designed to make it appear to be an intellectual masterpiece to anyone lacking the ability recognize it's fallacy and predisposed to believe the crap being peddled. 

This just had to be quoted.   

lolol   

[DK]

Mr Eschenbach's "study" could be benefitted with numerical tables, charts an numerical comparisons rather than the reams of meaningles obisification designed to make it appear to be an intellectual masterpiece to anyone lacking the ability recognize it's fallacy and predisposed to believe the crap being peddled.  

Do you really speak like that, DK?  Hardly seems like English.  

Anyway, here are some very detailed graphs and charts, with numerical comparisons.  They should help to make things clear for you.

Nah, I'm just a simple country boy from Arkansas. That was just an easy way to say the whole thing in a single sentence.

https://infogr.am/Black-34991937313

[Valkorado]

Understood.  

And your opinions on the link?  

https://infogr.am/Black-34991937313

I think it objectively shows, without any bashing or leaping to conclusions, that there is no real race bias in America when it comes to law enforcement and criminal behavior.

[Valkorado]

[G-Man]

Just like racism (real racism) against other colors, etc, is generally a taught thing (not based on reality), I truly believe that bigotry and disrespect for the law and police is also taught in some communities.  It is these communities who perpetuate this and yell "I told you so" everytime there is an incident involving police. 

Folks who are taught to respect the law, and those who swear to uphold the law, obey when confronted.  Those who are not taught these things are the ones upset when someone else disobeys and then pays the consequences for their misbehavior.

Now we are seeing black officers being involved in shootings against black perps, and people are questioning how this can be considered racism.  It's not racism between the two people involved, it's a blue vs. black thing now.  Doesn't matter what color the cop is, just that he/she's a cop.