Reducing Officer-Involved Shootings in Fresno, CA

Police officers are authorized to use force in the line of duty to protect the public they serve. However, inappropriate use of this authority can erode trust between the police and the public and undermine the core mandate of the police to “protect and serve.” Between 2001 and 2016, officers of the Fresno Police Department were involved in 146 officer-involved shootings. This high number of shootings, its disparate impact on low-income communities and communities of color, and the department’s policies and practices have significantly damaged police-community relationships. Improved and explicit policies and practices around community engagement and transparency will help to rebuild a foundation of trust and cooperation between police departments and the communities they serve. This report recommends a series of reforms including policy updates and improvements, reallocation of resources for improved officer training, and an expanded and transparent officer-involved shooting review process.