Washington launches statewide database tracking police use-of-force

June 02, 2025 / 3:10 pm

A new state database tracking police use-of-force data across Washington is now live.

State officials say they're hopeful having a centralized database will lead to more data-driven policies and decision-making within the justice system — and improved public safety in Washington.

The launch of the database, called the Washington State Data Exchange for Public Safety, comes four years after state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle voted overwhelmingly in favor of creating it, as part of an effort to improve transparency, trust, and accountability in law enforcement.

State law requires law enforcement agencies to report incidents that involve certain types of force, like when an officer uses a firearm, Taser, pepper spray, canine, or strikes a person with a weapon or their body. Agencies are also required to report information about both the officer and person involved in use-of-force incidents, such as age, gender, race, and ethnicity.

In a letter to police chiefs and sheriffs across the state on Monday, Attorney General Nick Brown called the launch of the database a "significant milestone."

“A single location with clear, standardized and contextual information will help the public better understand the use of force in Washington,” Brown wrote. "Law enforcement and policymakers will have common tools to better analyze force and make informed decisions about policing policies and practices.”

The data exchange, which tracks use-of-force incidents across Washington's 300 law enforcement agencies, is operated by Washington State University under a grant agreement with the Attorney General's Office. It's a publicly-available, cloud-based database that the Attorney General's Office says will allow the public to understand the context of use-of-force. For example, the database will allow for comparisons of use-of-force across different types of incidents, from an assault or traffic incident to a mental health 911 call.

"When we understand the cause of an issue, we can fix it," said state Sen. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek), a supporter of the bill to create the database. "When to use force is one of the most difficult decisions a peace officer must face and we must all work together to ensure that people are safe, and feel safe, in our communities."

Law enforcement agencies now have through Sept. 2 to begin reporting data — and going forward, they'll have to report use-of-force data on a monthly basis.

The launch of Washington's use-of-force database comes months after President Donald Trump shut down the first national database tracking misconduct by federal police officers, as part of his administration's efforts to shrink the size and cost of the federal government.