Use of Force Data Dashboards

The SFPD Use of Force Dashboards allows users to explore use-of-force data beyond what is presented in printed reports through interactive visualizations. Dashboards display information using charts, tables, and filters to support deeper analysis.

The dashboards, in addition, satisfies the use of force reporting requirements mandated by: 

• Chapter 96A Law Enforcement Reporting Requirements
• Crime Reform Initiative Reporting Requirements

These dashboards present the number of use-of-force by:

• Type of Force
• Reason for Force

Data are organized according to four reporting standards from 2016-present, each reflecting different definitions and thresholds for use of force.

Users may filter data by race or ethnicity, gender, and age group. Demographic data can be viewed as either counts or percentages of the total, and analysis may be conducted based on either:

• the officer who used force, or
• the person the force was used on

Users can interact with the dashboard by clicking or hovering over visuals. Additional information is available in the Additional Resources section at the bottom of the page.

Additional Resources

The SFPD Use of Force Dashboards reflect data collected under multiple versions of SFPD’s Use of Force policy. Over the past several years, changes to policy definitions, reporting thresholds, and data collection systems have significantly impacted how use-of-force incidents are documented and reported. This section explains each major policy change and its implications for data interpretation.

Policy Timeline Summary

Standard 1 (Dec 21, 2016 - Apr 11, 2022) (2016 Use of Force Policy)

Reporting Threshold

Under the 2016 Use of Force policy, force was reportable only when physical interaction resulted in one or more of the following:

• an injury,
• a complaint of injury, or
• a complaint of pain that persisted beyond a physical control hold.

As a result, many low-level physical interactions were not captured in the data, particularly physical control holds where no pain or injury was reported. This policy standard reflects a higher reporting threshold and a more limited scope of data collection relative to later policies.

Firearm Pointing

In 2016, intentionally pointing a firearm at a person was added as a reportable use of force. Other firearm-related actions - such as drawing or exhibiting a firearm without pointing - were not collected under the policy standard. 

Standard 2 (Apr 12, 2022 - Dec 7, 2022) (2022 Use of Force Policy)

Rationale for Policy Change

The 2022 revision to SFPD's Use of Force policy was based on by:

• recommendations from the U.S. Department of Justice, and
• findings from the Center for Policing Equity (CPE) 2020 San Francisco City Report.

Key objectives of the revision included:

• expanding the definition of reportable force,
• collecting more detailed and consistent use-of-force data, and
• clarifying firearm-related reporting requirements

Physical Control Threshold Changes

The most significant changes under the 2022 policy were the removal of the "complaint of pain" requirement for reporting force. Under this standard:

• officers were required to report any use of physical control applied to overcome resistance,
• regardless of whether an injury occurred or pain was reported.

In 2020, after an audit performed by the San Francisco Controller's Office, a report from the Center for Policing Equity, and ongoing reviews of community complaints and national concern regarding law enforcement's use of pressure to the head and neck, SFPD proposed an update to this policy. A new policy was adopted by the Commission in January and, after an implementation period, went into effect on April 12, 2022.

Impact on data: 

This change substantially increased reported uses of force, particularly for:

• Physical Control Holds, and
• Takedowns.

These increases reflect changes in reporting requirements rather than necessarily changes in officer behavior.

Firearm Reporting Changes

The 2022 policy significantly expanded firearm-related data collection.

• Pointing a Firearm
  • Pointing a firearm at or in the direction of a person, including instances where the firearm was held in a “low ready” position, became reportable.
• Drawing and Exhibiting a Firearm (New Category)
  • A new data category, Drawing and Exhibiting a Firearm, was introduced.
  • Drawing or exhibiting a firearm alone is not classified as a use of force.
  • These incidents were collected to support analysis, training, and oversight, but were not included in use-of-force counts.

Impact on data: 

New firearm-related records appear in datasets beginning 2022, increasing overall record volume without necessarily increasing use-of-force counts.

Standard 3 (Dec 8, 2022 - Oct 18, 2024) (2022 Policy Revisions)

Additional revisions to the 2022 policy were approved on November 2, 2022, and became effective on December 8, 2022. These revisions narrowed certain definitions and clarified reporting requirements, including:

• reclassifying the Low Ready position as Drawing and Exhibiting rather than Pointing a Firearm;
• clarifying guidance related to Safeguarding Dignity;
• streamlining supervisory evaluation and video review procedures.

For reporting consistency, quarterly activity and data reports beginning December 8, 2022, reflect this revised policy standard.

Standard 4 (Oct 19, 2024 - Present) (2024 Use of Force Policy)

Type of Force Revisions

The October 19, 2024 policy revision further narrowed reporting thresholds, particularly for low-level physical interactions. Under this policy:

• a physical interaction is classified as non-reportable if:
  • it does not cause pain or injury, and
  • the subject does not report pain or injury.

This revision broadened the definition of Type I (non-reportable) uses of force and narrowed Type II (reportable) uses of force.

Impacted metrics include:

• Physical Control Holds, and
• Takedowns

Impact on data: 

Reported use-of-force counts beginning in 2024 4th Quarter may be lower than prior periods due to changes in reporting thresholds rather than reductions in enforcement activity.

Drawing and Exhibiting a Firearm Revisions

The 2024 policy also revised documentation requirements for drawing and exhibiting a firearm:

• prior documentation sections were consolidated;
• documentation may occur via:
  • Body-Worn Cameras (BWC),
  • Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), or
  • incident reports

Written reports are required only when:

• force resulted in or was likely to result in injury, or
• a firearm was pointed or used to compel compliance.

Impact on data: 

These revisions do not affect current quarterly metrics but may influence future analyses that combine firearm-related and use-of-force data.