Data To Assist In Sorting Through The Narratives

The purpose of this letter is not to express an opinion, nor minimize the loss and value of loved ones, nor criticize law enforcement. The purpose of this letter is to provide the public with actual data in order to enable people to effectively sort through all of the narratives that are being circulated throughout the media.

A detailed source of information is provided by the Washington Post on police shootings resulting in death. (Google: Police shootings database 2015- 2020- Washington Post). A chart posted by the Post provides the following numbers of those shot and killed since January 1, 2015: Black-1,342; Hispanic-945; White-2,592; Other-221. (These numbers are as of 10/18/20. The numbers are updated on a regular basis).

If you are looking at the chart, note that it is NOT the number of Blacks killed by law enforcement that is higher than the number of Whites killed by law enforcement, it is the RATE that is higher.

So, how is the rate calculated?

The chart shows the number of Blacks in the U.S. population at 42 million. If you divide 1,342 by 42, you get 31.95. Rounded off, you end up with the rate of 32 Blacks per every 1 million Blacks involved in fatal encounters with police. The chart shows the number of Whites in the U.S. population at 197 million. If you divide 2,592 by 197, you get 13.15. Rounded off, you end up with the rate of 13 Whites per every 1 million Whites involved in fatal encounters with police. The rate for Hispanics is 24 per every 1 million Hispanics. The chart shows the number of Hispanics in the U.S. population at 39 million.

If you scroll down to the bottom of the Washington Post article, you will find information on EACH individual involved in a fatal shooting encounter with law enforcement. When possible, the information includes the following: name, age, race, date of encounter, armed or unarmed, city and state, whether the person had mental illness or not, and the source of information.

Christopher Nance Porterville