Fatal Encounters

A step toward creating an impartial, comprehensive and searchable national database of people killed during interactions with police

An acquittal feels like a full circle

Support Fatal Encounters Donate Today! I’ve just got a short message today. Today is our last day for this crowdfunding campaign. We’ve got about 14 hours left. I’ve said this before, but I guess it’s … Read more

Manufacturing justification

Support Fatal Encounters Donate Today! In my last few posts, I’ve written about the formulaic ways news media cover police killed by people and people killed by police. These formulas allow police to predict and … Read more

How the media misleads on police violence Part 3

Support Fatal Encounters Donate Today! My first post in this series was called “How the media misleads on police violence Part 1,” and it regarded ways the media (and government) effectively prevent people of this … Read more

How the media misleads on police violence Part 2

Support Fatal Encounters Donate Today! My last post was called “How the media misleads on police violence Part 1,” and it regarded ways the media (and government) effectively prevent people of this country from having … Read more

How the media misleads on police violence Part 1

Support Fatal Encounters Donate Today! I’m sometimes surprised–but not really–by how little we know about police-involved violence and death in this country. I’m going to share some thoughts on the topic. They probably won’t change … Read more

Life and Death in Draft Form

Support Fatal Encounters Donate Today! Reporters occasionally ask me why I call our spreadsheet a first draft. Believe me, they ask it less than I’d prefer, and I’m glad to answer when they do. Simply put, when … Read more

Breaking News: Tasers, Death and Race

Support Fatal Encounters Donate Today! Did you see the great story by Reuters, “The Toll“? This is exactly how our data is supposed to work. We collect the data, and other news outlets move it forward, … Read more

On fatigue and government sleight of hand

Support Fatal Encounters Donate Today! The United States is sick to death of hearing about people being killed by police. This isn’t just my opinion, it’s based on things like the number of news stories … Read more

Please allow me to tell you a story

Support Fatal Encounters Donate Today! I want to tell you a story. It’s sort of an “inside baseball” story, but maybe it’ll help you to understand that I’m not heading up the Fatal Encounters project because I … Read more

From researcher Christopher Cox

The United States government does not keep accurate records about law enforcement-related deaths. My boss does instead. Fatal Encounters operates from D. Brian Burghart’s dining room table, where other researchers and I are helping him to build a … Read more