Boulder Reporting Lab: After years of community calls for greater transparency on police use-of-force incidents, Boulder officials have launched a public dashboard tracking when and how officers use force.

The city defines use of force as any “physical strike, physical contact with an object or tool, or any significant physical contact that restricts the movement of a person.” It also includes the display of a firearm or Taser and the use of pepper spray.

Since 2021, when certain data collection began, Boulder police have used force in about 6% to 9% of arrests, according to the dashboard. Most incidents involved displaying a firearm or Taser, or using physical force such as a “takedown.” 

Visit Boulder Reporting Lab for more.